Taunton Playground Evacuation Scare Was Teen With Pellet Gun

TAUNTON — Taunton police say a scare that caused the temporary evacuation of a city park camp playground on Wednesday morning was due to a teenager with a pellet gun.

Police said in a release later on Wednesday afternoon that there was no active threat to park goers at Hopewell Park.

Officers responded to a report of a suspicious person at the park from a Taunton Parks and Recreation camp employee at around 11:52 a.m. Wednesday.

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The employee told police that a member of the public saw a male youth with a firearm at the playground.

Emergency personnel immediately removed all campers from the playground area and brought them back to the camp as a precaution, police said.

Officers found two boys, a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old, one of whom matched the suspect's description.

Both boys cooperated with police.

Investigators found that one youth had brought a pellet gun to the park to show his friends, letting one of them hold it for a short period before returning it to his bag.

Police said the pellet gun was not functional and was not loaded.

Officers took the pellet gun from the boy and brought him home, speaking with his mother about the incident.

They also spoke with the two boys about pellet gun safety, according to the release.

Both teens will be issued a no trespass order to stay away from Hopewell Park.