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Stoneham Police Release Video After Teen With Realistic Water Gun Detained During 911 Scare

The release underscores how realistic water guns can prompt high-risk police responses.

Overview

  • Stoneham officers detained a high school senior after a 7 a.m. Monday 911 report of a person with a gun hiding on Gerry Street.
  • Body-camera video released Thursday shows officers arriving with guns drawn for a moment and ordering the teen to the ground.
  • Police determined the item was a look-alike water pistol used for a senior "assassin" game and released the student after calling his parents.
  • Chief James O'Connor praised the responding officers' calm approach and framed the incident as a quickly resolved misunderstanding.
  • The Stoneham High principal warned families that such toys are banned on campus and that the game can set off dangerous police responses.