Middletown police respond to teen’s home after Facebook post with apparent pistol

Detectives were knocking on the door of a Middletown residence Friday morning after a teen posted a photo of himself with a gun on social media, according to police reports.

After receiving a complaint, officers were able to identify the teen with what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol as a 15-year-old boy. The teen was sleeping when officers when to his home at 7:24 a.m.. He told them he had a toy or prop pistol that fires blanks. The boy said it was under his pillow.

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Officers found the gun to be a 9-millimeter, blank-firing pistol that strongly resembled an actual fire arm. The orange tip had been scraped off, according to police.

The teen’s grandmother said she had taken the pistol way from him but recently allowed him to have it back. She said she wanted the pistol destroyed.

Officers took possession of the pistol and cautioned the boy against any behavior in the future. The teen is currently suspended from school and could face further charges, according to Lt. Scott Reeve.

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