Shocking new video shows what appears to be a group of teenagers playing with a gun near school grounds. News4’s Jackie Bensen reports.
Young people captured in a shocking new video could be seen playing with what looks like a gun outside a high school in Hyattsville, Maryland.
The video, shot by Telemundo 44, shows what appear to be teenagers casually playing with a BB gun in some woods not far from the Northwestern High School campus.
The video was captured after some community members raised safety concerns in the neighborhood.
At least one neighbor in a nearby townhouse complex voiced concerns that a hole in the fence between the new townhomes and Northwestern High has led to the area being used as a cut-through for students, causing problems that include crime.
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Despite the proximity to the high school, News4 is not certain whether the video shows students. The people in the video do appear to be teenagers. The video was taken at 1 p.m., during school hours.
The video is disturbing and shows a group of young people handling the gun, and in one case, pointing the gun at each other.
The weapon is black and from the distance at which it was shot, nothing would indicate it is not a real gun.
Hyattsville police were called and officers took a 16-year-old into custody.
Police told News4 they quickly determined the weapon was a BB gun. They said the case is being reviewed by the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office to determine whether charges will be filed.
It is illegal to bring a BB gun onto school property. However, because of where the incident occurred, it is difficult to say whether it took place on school property or right next to it.
A community meeting was set up for next week at Hyattsville's city hall to address neighbors' safety concerns.
