Some think police overreacted, others declare it was the right move. Here's what everyone had to say about the Christmas incident on Route 31.
The police response to a teen walking on Route 31 Christmas Day with an Airsoft rifle elicited strong reactions from Patch readers. Some residents thought charges against the teen would be excessive; others thought the response was appropriate following the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn. In the days following the shooting, schools reassured parents that their children's safety was an ongoing priority for them. At about 11:35 a.m. on Dec. 25, Geneva police began to receive calls about a male of an undetermined age that was near First and Stevens streets with a firearm. Police caught up to the 15-year-old boy and took him into custody. His gun was determined to be an Airsoft rifle. The Airsoft guns shoot plastic BBs and other …
The 15-year-old was spotted on Route 31 with a rifle Christmas morning. Here's what happened.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Rick Nagel
-
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
A male teenager was taken into custody late Christmas morning after he was seen with a rifle near Wheeler Park, according to police and reader reports. The initial address on the police call was in the 400 block of North First Street (Route 31) near Stevens Street in Geneva. The incident took place at about 11:35 a.m. after police received two calls regarding a male of undetermined age crouching behind a dark-colored sports utility vehicle. While in custody, Geneva police determined that the teen was carrying an airsoft rifle, the Kane County Chronicle reports. Airsoft guns shoot plastic BBs and other projectiles, but many of them can appear similar to real firearms. The teen, who is in town visiting family, was referred to a juvenile …
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Geneva Park District - Wheeler Park
822 N 1st St, Geneva, IL
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8:19 am on Sunday, December 30, 2012
From what I recall of air rifles as a kid in the '70's-it was illegal to shoot them within city limits, not illegal to own one or carry it out in the open. Camo is the male "uniform" for most states south of I-80, so no problem there. The fact that he had an air rifle specifically designed to look like a gun is a little more concerning. If that was a request and not just a coincidence, at the … more ›