Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
File: 25-2339
Victoria, B.C. – A man was arrested at Hillside Shopping Centre yesterday afternoon after being seen carrying what appeared to be a real firearm, prompting a resource-intensive, high-priority response. The suspect, who was in breach of court-ordered conditions and had outstanding warrants, was prohibited from possessing weapons or being at the shopping centre. Duane Gerrad has been charged with several offences, including one count of Carrying a Concealed Weapon, one count of Possessing a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and one count of Failing to Comply with a Release Order.
On January 19, just after 3:30 p.m., VicPD received a report of a male with what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband as he entered Hillside Mall. Due to the high volume of civilians in the area and the potential threat posed by a real firearm, this was deemed a high-risk situation, prompting a priority response from several VicPD officers.
Gerrad was located inside the mall and arrested without incident. Once in custody, the firearm was seized and determined to be a pellet gun. This incident highlights the ongoing concern posed by replica firearms, which officers continue to encounter in the course of their duties.
Image of the Seized Firearm
Although replica firearms like this are not illegal, their realistic appearance can cause significant alarm in the community, especially when they are tucked into waistbands or visible from back pockets or bags. Such situations often lead to resource-intensive, high-priority responses. Officers treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise, and for everyone’s safety, we urge the public not to carry imitation firearms.
VicPD Officers Continue to Encounter Replica Firearms in the Community
Gerrad is being held in custody pending a court appearance later today.
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