Mission RCMP have confirmed that a young child discovered a fully loaded handgun in downtown Mission on Tuesday night (Oct. 31).
According to Const. James Mason, police were flagged down by a person at the Tim Hortons on First Avenue. The person was already on the phone to dispatch when they saw the officer.
“We were advised that a young boy had located a handgun. It was a revolver and it was fully loaded with rounds. It is now in our custody,” Mason said.
RCMP are now investigating the origin of the firearm to see if it is related to any outstanding investigations.
The gun was discovered in the bushes near the Tim Hortons.
According to a Facebook post, the young boy was only three years old.
“It’s unfortunate, in this instance, that it was located by a child, who doesn’t yet have the knowledge or the sense to not pick it up or touch it. But thankfully no one was hurt in this process,” Mason said.
Anyone who does locate a gun is encouraged not to touch it; rather, they should call police immediately.
“Every firearm should be assumed to be loaded until proven otherwise,” Mason said.