St. Louis-area law enforcement issue warnings regarding use of toy guns

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis-area law enforcement organizations, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Creve Coeur Crime Prevention Program are once again asking kids and teenagers to refrain from shooting people with toy guns.

The warnings come after a group of teenagers had gel blasters confiscated for shooting each other near a downtown Metro Link station and a male juvenile was arrested for using gel bead blaster in an AMC theater in Creve Coeur.

Sgt. Charles Wall with the St. Louis Police Department says they can't take much preemptive action with these toy guns.

"It is not a weapon, it is marketed as a toy, and designed to be a toy," said Wall at a press conference earlier in the week. "So there isn't anything legally prohibiting somebody from carrying it."

Wall says the issue is when these guns are fired at someone unsuspecting which is assault. Wall adds they fear someone might perceive the toy as a threat and shoot back.

"Many individuals are lawfully allowed to possess and conceal and carry a firearm and address to what they perceive to be a threat to themselves or someone else potentially with deadly force," said Wall.

Officer Brooke Bedwell joined KMOX Wednesday to address the incident with a toy gun at a AMC theatre in Creve Coeur and says toy guns are no joke.

"Please have the conversation with your kids that just because it is considered a toy it is still a weapon," said Bedwell on Total Information A.M. "Many municipalities like Creve Coeur have dangerous projectile ordinances so you can be charged for that."

Wall adds they are making efforts to reach kids through social media about the dangers.

"We did push this information out on our social media platforms to get it out to the public directly," said Wall. "So anybody that follows us on social media is seeing that and hopefully understanding it is something we are taking more seriously."