Seeking Public Assistance - Child Injured By Unknown Projectile

The Calgary Police Service is investigating an incident where a child was injured with some type of projectile.

At approximately 8 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, a nine-year-old boy was playing in his backyard in the 3000 block of Dover Crescent S.E., when he heard a loud bang. He ran inside to his parents, where they stripped off his shirt and discovered a small wound in his upper abdomen.

The boy was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He has since been released, although the projectile was unable to be removed from his abdomen as the procedure would be too intrusive.

Despite an extensive search of the area and door-to-door interviews, police have been unable to determine what injured the child, however, his wound is consistent with being hit with an object from an air-powered gun.

Just last month, the Service urged Calgarians to be cautious with imitation or BB, pellet or air-powered guns as they pose a concern for public safety. Stray ammunition can cause real harm or damage to people, pets or property.

In Calgary it is a bylaw offence to fire any weapon within city limits, including on your own property. It is also against city bylaws to transport an air-powered gun with a round of ammunition in the chamber.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about this case to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: tttTIPS.com
TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637

Laws Surrounding Air-Powered Guns

Majority of BB, pellet, and Airsoft guns are not firearms as defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, or the firearms act.
However, any gun or replica thereof, used in an offence, is considered to be a firearm and treated as such under the criminal code.
It is a bylaw offence to fire any weapon within city limits, including on your own property.
It is against city bylaws to transport an air-powered gun with a round of ammunition in the chamber.

Media availability notice to follow.