Teen Airgun Play Turns Into Frisco Police Incident

[Keith B]

This could have ended up pretty bad.

From kids playing cowboys and Indians, to cops and robbers, for most folks it isn't unusual to see youngsters running around with toy guns.

But a play gunfight among a group of Frisco teenagers, shooting pellets, turned into a confrontation by police officers with real guns who thought they and area residents were in danger.

"I had an officer running at me with his gun pointed at me and he was yelling at me to get on the ground," said Bobby Whitecotton, an 11th grader involved in the incident.

A police report says officers were sent to Prestmont Place to check out a report of a person with a machine gun. But the item thought to be a machine gun was Airsoft Gun – a toy weapon that shoots white pellets.

The Frisco Police Department report details how a group of 7th and 11th graders, playing with the Airsoft guns, came within a hair trigger of being shot with real bullets.

It was dark when police arrived at the scene. One officer wrote in his report, "At first the subject did not comply with my verbal commands. I then pointed my duty weapon at the subject." Another responding officer wrote, "I put my flashlight on him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground, while my firearm was pointed at him."

"The officer that was pointing at my brother said he had his trigger halfway pulled on him and he made a judgment call not to shoot him," Bobby Whitecotton recalled.

In a statement to CBS 11 News, the Frisco Police Department said they consider any report of a person or persons presenting a firearm in public as a serious occurrence that demands a response which ensures the public's and officers safety.

Despite everything, the teens still think the police went too far. "I think that they overdid it. It's a toy gun," said Bobby Whitecotton.

"I was pretty worried and scared he was going to shoot me," said Austin Whitecotton, a 7th grader involved in the incident.

Now parents question why officers frisked and searched the teens after realizing the mistake. "I'm very upset about it. Something needs to be done," said mother Gloria Whitecotton. "You kind of wonder once they did know should it have continued the way that it did."

Frisco police say pellet guns are illegal in the city and the teens got off with a warning.

Per the municipal code, airsoft guns are illegal in Frisco.

[MadMonkey]

Cops probably overdid it but the kids should know better. Many Airsoft guns are exact replicas down to the trademarks, even the same weight as their real counterparts.

This is why we have a non-profit Airsoft organization here so we can help keep kids from playing on streets and backyards and put them into controlled fields with experienced players.

[jimlongley]

Cops probably overdid it but the kids should know better. Many Airsoft guns are exact replicas down to the trademarks, even the same weight as their real counterparts.

This is why we have a non-profit Airsoft organization here so we can help keep kids from playing on streets and backyards and put them into controlled fields with experienced players.

I have a nice little airsoft 1911 that weighs pretty close, and the slide cycles. If it wasn't for the orange muzzle, it would be nearly impossible to tell from a real gun, and even with the muzzle, still hard to tell at a glance.

Besides being argueably against the city ordinance, the kids should have just laid down their guns and surrendered when the cops showed up, instead of depending on the old tried and ture "He should have known I wasn't doing anything wrong."

[marksiwel]

give these kids a place to play Airsoft and there wont be a problem.

[KD5NRH]

I have a nice little airsoft 1911 that weighs pretty close, and the slide cycles. If it wasn't for the orange muzzle, it would be nearly impossible to tell from a real gun, and even with the muzzle, still hard to tell at a glance.

Yes, but when you point it at your buddy and it goes clack clack, and he doesn't start bleeding, isn't it rather obvious that it isn't the real thing?

Besides being argueably against the city ordinance, the kids should have just laid down their guns and surrendered when the cops showed up,

Heck, maybe they were playing cops and robbers, and didn't realize this wasn't just a new team joining in.

If nothing else, the police should have observed long enough to identify all targets first, rather than just light up the most obvious guy and leave themselves open to the others. Odds are, during that time, they might have noticed the guns were way too quiet and flash-free.

[MoJo]

It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and say what the cops should have done or shouldn't have done. The fact is we weren't there and have no idea of what the situation really was.

I'm glad it worked out like it did but, when people do stupid things bad things can and often do happen.

[Keith B]

I am with most of you. It was dark. I have been in these types of situations when it is dark and responding to a man with a gun call. Many times all you can see is a shadow and someone running with the outline of a gun heading for you. It would be a tough call. Glad these officers kept their heads, the kids basically did what they were told and everything turned out OK.

As for the parent fussing that they went overboard, let's ask them the same thing if they have a gang decide to use similar shaped REAL guns in the neighborhood.

[rthillusa]

The parents should have whupped the tar out of the kids and then got down on their knees to thank the Lord the kids are still alive and that the Frisco officers showed such restraint. What are they thinking? I see those pellet and air soft guns on the shelf at WalMart and they look almost real in a well lit store. At night, in the dark, making a decision in a split second ---- this could have been another needless tragedy.

[WildBill]

Per the municipal code, airsoft guns are illegal in Frisco.

I would have never thought that Airsoft guns shooting a hollow plastic "pellet" would be illegal.
I guess if the same type of laws applied when I was a kid, I would have gotten arrested for shooting crabapples from my slingshot.

[gigag04]

GREAT response of the officers part. W/O being there I can't (and won't) comment on how bad the situation was but from what I've read here it was a great outcome for all involved. And everyone went home safe.

Fault lies on the kids and the parents IMO...

[WildBill]

GREAT response of the officers part. W/O being there I can't (and won't) comment on how bad the situation was but from what I've read here it was a great outcome for all involved. And everyone went home safe.

These days, officers responding to a call of someone with "a machine gun" never know what they will encounter.

[stroo]

Where does the Frisco code say that airsoft guns are illegal?

I have looked through the code and don't see anything other than that arguably in the parks section they might be considered "BB guns, pellet guns or airguns". Many airsoft guns are either springload or electric and arguably don't fall within those categories. Moreover that section only limits their use in a park, not anywhere else in Frisco.

[Keith B]

Where does the Frisco code say that airsoft guns are illegal?

I have looked through the code and don't see anything other than that arguably in the parks section they might be considered "BB guns, pellet guns or airguns". Many airsoft guns are either springload or electric and arguably don't fall within those categories. Moreover that section only limits their use in a park, not anywhere else in Frisco.

ARTICLE III. FIREARMS

Sec. 54-56. Carrying firearms in city buildings.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer, to carry a firearm in any city building except those municipal premises in which a person may lawfully carry a concealed handgun under state law, regardless of whether or not the person is duly licensed by the state to carry a concealed handgun.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any BB gun, pellet gun, gun, pistol, rifle, or firearm of any kind within the city limits, except within a properly secured indoor firearms range, constructed and maintained in accord with National Rifle Association specifications and standards or upon a range owned and operated by a governmental entity.
(c) The term "city building" as used in this section is defined as any building or portion of a building owned, occupied, leased, or controlled by the city for city operations and activities.
(d) The term "handgun" as used in this section is defined as any firearm that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand, and the term "concealed handgun" as used in this section is defined as a handgun, the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person.
(e) The terms "gun," "pistol," rifle," and "firearm" as used in this section shall not only be defined as to include all percussion weapons, but shall also include all air guns, air pistols, air rifles, and all other firearms using air pressure to propel a projectile.(f) This section shall not be construed to prohibit any peace officer from discharging a firearm in the performance of his duty, nor to prohibit any citizen from discharging a firearm when lawfully defending person or property.
(g) Signs shall be posted in city buildings notifying of the prohibitions contained in this article.
(h) Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined a sum not exceeding $500.00 for each such violation, and each and every day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense; provided, however, such penal provision shall not preclude a suit to enjoin such violation.
(Ord. No. 95-12-14, §§ 1, 2, 12-19-1995)
Secs. 54-57--54-85. Reserved.

While arguably there are spring and electric propelled airsoft guns, it would be a burden of proof on the person carrying them to prove their method of projecting the pellet was not air. AND, since it is called AIRsoft, it may be hard to do. Either way I think they are gonna write you up and let the judge rule on it.

[boomerang]

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer, to carry a firearm in any city building except those municipal premises in which a person may lawfully carry a concealed handgun under state law, regardless of whether or not the person is duly licensed by the state to carry a concealed handgun.

So it's illegal for someone with a CHL to carry unless it's not?

[Keith B]

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer, to carry a firearm in any city building except those municipal premises in which a person may lawfully carry a concealed handgun under state law, regardless of whether or not the person is duly licensed by the state to carry a concealed handgun.

So it's illegal for someone with a CHL to carry unless it's not?

Yeah, that wording is a little funky. LOL