Latest news with #PeteTesta
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Calgary Herald
Gun complaint at Strathmore High School turned out to be a water pistol in grad prank
Article content A student at Strathmore High School landed in some hot water Friday after their senior prank resulted in a visit from RCMP officers. Article content Article content A press release from the Strathmore RCMP detachment confirmed officers responded to a complaint of a suspect with a firearm at Strathmore High School. Based on the information provided, RCMP said they advised the school and other buildings in the area to initiate lockdown procedures. Article content Article content However, RCMP said the investigation revealed there was never a threat to anyone, as the suspect was in fact carrying a water pistol, as part of a high-school game that has been spreading across the country. Article content Article content The 'Senior Assassin' game, which sees high-schoolers seek each other out with water guns, has prompted warnings from police forces in other Canadian cities, including a PSA from the Calgary Police Service earlier this month. Article content 'Although an innocent game, RCMP is reminding those partaking, please be mindful that someone witnessing this or driving by could perceive a water gun to be a real firearm,' Strathmore RCMP said in its release, adding the student was taken into custody 'without incident.' Article content Cpl. Gina Slaney, a media relations officer for Alberta RCMP, said the game itself is harmless, but can have serious repercussions, as evidenced by the incident in Strathmore. Article content Article content 'Somebody driving by and seeing someone in the parking lot of a business with what is a water gun but potentially look like a real gun, that can cause issues,' she said. 'That's what happened today – somebody saw what they thought was a real firearm on school property, called into the RCMP and we of course have a very serious response to a call like that.' Article content The London Police Service in Ontario issued a news release in April encouraging parents to speak to their kids about the potential risks and consequences of having an imitation firearm in their possession. Article content 'Some of the toy guns we have located on the youth playing the game have been very realistic and resembled real firearms,' said Insp. Pete Testa, with the London Police Service. 'Our officers respond to firearm-related calls that involve the use of both real and imitation firearms, as such they treat every call as though the gun is real.
CTV News
29-04-2025
- CTV News
‘Senior assassin' trend prompts multiple weapons calls to London police
London police have issued a caution to parents following a rash of senior pranks that have caused some concerned citizens to call emergency services. The so called 'Senior Assassin' social media trend has seen several reports of youth carrying what appear to be firearms throughout the last week at locations across London. The game involves graduating high school students seeking each other out with water or Nerf guns, typically in public settings during daylight hours. Police say that several reports to 9-1-1 have been filed by concerned citizens believing the youth are armed with real firearms, unaware of the game being played. 'Some of the toy guns we have located on the youth playing the game have been very realistic and resembled real firearms', cautioned Inspector Pete Testa, head of the LPS Community Mobilization and Support Branch. 'Our officers respond to firearm related calls that involve the use of both real and imitation firearms, as such they treat every call as though the gun is real.' Along with emergency responses being summoned to a non-emergency, young people found to be engaging in this kind of play can face criminal charges in extreme cases. 'Calls involving any type of firearm elevate our officer's response as it creates a great concern for not only public safety, but our officer's safety as well,' said Pesta. 'At the end of the day, we want to ensure that no one gets hurt.' Police encourage parents and guardians to speak with their teens and educate them about the possible risks and consequences that they can face if they have an imitation firearm on their person.
