Republished July 08, 2016 - 5:24 AM
Original Publication Date July 07, 2016 - 2:40 PM
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - RCMP in northwestern Alberta are praising two young kids for doing the right thing when they found a loaded handgun ditched by a shooting suspect.
"The children were astute enough to not touch the weapon and immediately notified a parent," Grande Prairie RCMP said in a release.
Officers were called to the city's west side on Wednesday to investigate reports of shots being fired at a business.
A male suspect fired at some people before taking off in a vehicle with police in pursuit.
Somewhere along the way he tossed the weapon.
Ayrabella Metselaar, who is six, and her five-year-old brother, Junah, found the gun in their backyard.
"At the time you dismiss it, right, because you've got a five year old and a six year old and their imaginations go wild," said the kids' dad, Darren Metselaar.
"What could be a gun to them could be a garden scoop or any other inanimate object. As a parent I feel proud, but at the same time very, very blessed and lucky and just so happy nothing bad happened."
Ayrabella and Junah were given a tour of the RCMP detachment Thursday, as well as awards, for doing the right thing.
Matthew James Bergeson, 32, of Grande Prairie is to appear in court Monday on 15 charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and various weapon counts.
(CJXX)
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016