A weapon first believed to be a rifle dug up by two people at a children’s playground in front of shocked parkgoers turned out to be a crossbow, say Victoria police.
The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. at Quadra Heights Playground, according to one witness who told CHEK News they couldn’t believe what happened before their eyes.
“Me and my neighbour were standing at a merry-go-round with our dogs playing, and all of a sudden, these two people (a man and woman) came running toward us,” said Gord, who lives nearby.
“We had to move out of (the man’s) way. We backed up to let him dive underneath the merry-go-round, and he was digging around in the wood chips in the dry part. He dug around for like three, four minutes, and a woman was standing there, five feet away from us…then, he pulls out a rifle.”
Gord said the man then put what he thought was a rifle into a red bag before the pair, who looked to be in their late 20s or early 30s, casually walked from the scene toward Tolmie Avenue.
“They weren’t in a rush. It was unbelievable. They didn’t care that we were just standing right there,” recalled Gord, noting he also alerted police.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’m still shaken up by it. I went to work and still couldn’t calm down, so I came home.”
Later Wednesday morning on Blanshard Street near Finlayson Street, a CHEK News reporter captured footage of police approaching the alleged rifle-carrying suspects.
A VicPD spokesperson told CHEK News in an update around 4 p.m. that the weapon recovered was actually a prohibited handheld crossbow — not a rifle.
Police say two people were arrested and are now facing weapons-related charges.
Holy CRAP! This just happened. Standing in the little park chatting with a neighbour.
When these 2 people come running in and started digging around in the wood chips under the merri-go-round. We thought they were looking for lost drugs. NOPE!They pull out an AR style rifle &… pic.twitter.com/JJlMvkwULi— ⒼⒻ Friends call me Ⓖ (@gfaller6) April 26, 2023
CHEK News
