8-Year-Old Bear Boy Finds Loaded Handgun While Playing

Police are currently investigating the recovery of three loaded weapons found in Bear, one of which was recovered by an 8-year-old boy playing by his home.

According to the child’s grandfather, the boy was playing behind his house on the 300 block of Silver Run Trail, in the Pheasant Lake Townhomes, when he found a blue gun box behind his fence. Inside the box, police found a loaded .380 Cobra handgun.

Police searched the area and found a second loaded 9 mm Smith and Wesson handgun that was wrapped inside a sock behind the fence along a footpath.

A more thorough search of the area uncovered reported a small handle that was protruding from a plastic bag. Inside the bag, police found a loaded sawed-off shotgun, a type of shotgun with a shorter gun barrel and often a shorter or deleted stock.

According to Colonel Rich Gregory, “The child who found the weapon is to be commended for not touching the gun and telling an adult. We must remind our youth to never touch any found weapons, always tell an adult and never let your friends play with guns.”

No word from police if these guns are related to a midday shootout involving for two men.

To offer information regarding this investigation, please call the New Castle County Police Department at 395-8110 or visit our website at www.nccpd.com.

Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.