Air Soft Gun Mistaken For Rifle At Statehouse

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts State Police say a suspicious person seen near the Statehouse with what appeared to be a rifle turned out to be a 12-year-old boy with a pellet gun, and there was never any danger.

The state police said earlier Sunday that they were looking for a suspicious minivan spotted at the Statehouse loading dock, after one of two occupants in the vehicle was seen looking through a scope or similar device attached to what appeared to be a rifle.

The minivan and the suspicious activity was captured by a surveillance camera, which also captured an image of the minivan's license plate.

Troopers said they later found the vehicle. They said the passenger with the rifle-like object was a 12-year-old boy who was holding his newly purchased airsoft rifle, which looks like a real rifle and fires plastic pellets. His father was driving the minivan.

The state police said they are still investigating the incident.

There were no events scheduled at the Statehouse on Sunday.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports

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