Needham police issue warning about realistic looking gel guns

Local News

“We cannot stress enough how dangerous these situations are for the public, for your children, and for our officers.”

Needham police issued a warning about realistic looking gel guns on Tuesday.

That evening, officers encountered a realistic looking gel gun at a local business, police said.

“At first glance, it is indistinguishable from a real rifle, especially from 40 to 50 feet away and being pointed at people,” the department wrote on Facebook.

“In situations like this, police officers are forced to make split-second decisions with limited information. This incident ended without anyone getting hurt, but that was a matter of luck.”

This was not the first incident Needham police have had with realistic looking gel guns, according to the department.

Police advised the public not to buying realistic looking guns, especially ones without safety markings, bright colors, or other indicators that would help distinguish them as toys.

Although children may ask for such guns, “these realistic gel blasters create risks that far outweigh any momentary fun,” police said.

“We cannot stress enough how dangerous these situations are for the public, for your children, and for our officers,” the department wrote.