December 1, 2014
A 17-year-old Kingaroy youth has been arrested and charged after he allegedly entered the foyer of the Kingaroy Courthouse on Monday morning brandishing what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun.
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police, Senior Sergeant Duane Frank said the youth began waving the handgun around the foyer and across the counter in front of staff.
Police rushed to the scene but the youth fled before they arrived.
The youth then allegedly headed to the BP Service Station on the corner of Kingaroy and Markwell streets.
Snr Sgt Frank said the youth joined up with some other people and began walking around inside the store.
He then allegedly removed the handgun from under his shirt and began pointing it in the direction of a staff member.
The youth was apprehended by police without incident as he left the store.
Snr Sgt Frank said the handgun was found to be a toy replica, but said it was very realistic and would be hard to distinguish as a toy from a few metres away.
He said the incidents had been captured on CCTV at both sites; there was no attempt to rob either place.
“The behaviour was idiotic,” Snr Sgt Frank said. “He told police he just wanted to see what would happen.”
“The distress and alarm he would have caused to the employees is of serious concern to police.”
The youth has been charged with carrying a weapon in a public place.
