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UPDATED: VicPD searching for man with a gun after two reports in Beacon Hill Park

Residents were asked to avoid the area on Thursday morning
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A search of Beacon Hill Park by Victoria Police Department for a man with a gun came up short on Thursday morning.

Residents were asked to avoid Beacon Hill Park near Cook Street as officers responded to a call about a person with a weapon after 9 a.m.

Bowen Osoko, spokesperson for VicPD, said police received two calls with reports for a person with a gun, although he could not say what type of firearm it was.

READ ALSO: Most criminal activity calls down in first half of 2020

“The activity that this person was doing with this weapon indicated that it could be a real one,” said Osoko, adding that the suspect was not pointing the gun at anyone. “The reality is we’ve seen replicas, especially air compressed guns, used in multiple instances across the city [but] … a replica does not mean it’s not a risk.”

READ ALSO: Victoria police seize two fake guns after man reported with weapon

Osoko said there was about a 20 to 30-minute time delay between when the man was first spotted and then reported to police, but a second call came in as police were heading to the park that matched the description of the first call.

A description of the suspect has not been released at this time.

“When we tell people to avoid an area, it’s because we’re concerned that their at risk of harm and we did that this morning, now that we’ve searched the area we’re pretty sure this person isn’t here.”

READ ALSO: Victoria Police Department outlines what it means to be a ‘high risk’ missing person


 

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