Tossed-Off Semiautomatic Gun Found In Pittsburgh Playground

POSTED: 5:53 pm EDT July 11, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- What would your child do if he or she found a loaded gun?

WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Andrew Stockey reported that more children are being confronted with that choice because abandoned guns are turning up on playgrounds and parks.

A highpoint 9mm semiautomatic was found June 10 at the Foster Park pool on Pittsburgh's North Side.

"The pool was packed with kids. Children were in the playground. The basketball court was packed," Pittsburgh Police Officer Chad Finney said. "We did not have to move anything. We did not have to push anything away. It was lying right there, easily visible."

An anonymous tip led police to the weapon at the park, where children were having fun that could have been wiped away in an instant.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Guns left by criminals and gangs are crossing children's paths in parks and playgrounds.

"They are found in the school area where kids who may want to take a gun to school can't get it into the school. So they throw it in the school area, so kids are finding them there," said Special Agent John Hageman, from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The ATF is seeing an alarming increase of incidents where children find weapons in Pennsylvania, Hageman said.

"Often, we find parents are willing to talk to their children about cigarettes and about drugs, and really, it is time to start talking to them about guns and not waiting until maybe they are 8, 9 or 10 years old," Hageman said.

What should you tell your children if they happen to stumble upon a weapon? The ATF says it's a situation where you need to teach your child to be calm and use common sense.

"It would be good to instruct your child to first encourage the person to put the gun down," said Hageman, "but also immediately encourage all the other children that are around to leave the area."

Next, your children should contact you or the nearest adult immediately, said Hageman.

From there, leave the rest up to law enforcement.

"Let your child know they are going to be a hero by doing this," said Hageman.

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