Two men were arrested and one was charged after a reported firearm incident on a city bus in Chilliwack, B.C. The Chilliwack RCMP says the weapon was determined to be a replica after officers responded to a complaint of a man brandishing a gun before boarding the bus at around 11 p.m. on April 24. The incident occurred after a verbal altercation between two groups near a bus stop on Yale Road. Police were also told the gun may have been discharged before the man entered the bus. The attending officers stopped the bus and two men on board were arrested without incident, the local RCMP detachment said in a news release Thursday. “During the investigation, police located the firearm involved and confirmed it was an imitation, not a real firearm,” the release said. “Police have also determined the replica firearm was not discharged in the direction of any person and no injuries were reported.” One of the suspects was later charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and was released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for May 12, police said. The bus was cleared and returned to service shortly after the incident. Mounties are reminding the public that imitation firearms can be almost indistinguishable from real weapons and can pose serious safety risks to those who carry them. “When police respond to firearm‑related incidents, officers treat all guns as real until secured, as they may not be able to immediately determine whether a firearm is a replica or not,” the release said.
