Teen Apprehended Over Modified Toy Gun in Shopping Plaza

The orange tips on toy guns are a vital identification marker as they distinguish fictional firearms from the real deal. Unfortunately, however, it is not uncommon for these safety indicators to be obscured or tampered with, typically via black paint or markers, in an attempt to render the toy as a convincing imitation of a genuine weapon. This troubling trend can, quite predictably, have serious implications when a legitimate authority figure, such as a police officer, mistakes the modified plaything for a real firearm. This was nearly the case when a male teenager was recently seen flaunting a disguised toy gun in his waistband in a TJ Maxx store in Lyndhurst.

This precarious situation could have escalated to a heartbreaking disaster but fortunately was resolved without incident, thanks to the admirable diligence and skills of the responding police force. Furthermore, the ‘weapon’ was confirmed to be a fake, and the young boy in possession of it was safely apprehended. The following narrative outlines how the alarming episode unfolded.

At around 2:10 p.m. on a Saturday, the 16th of August, 2025, the local police station received an urgent call from a 911 operator. The operator relayed information about a reported sighting of an individual sporting a gun openly in his waistband in the vicinity of a TJ Maxx store located in a shopping complex.

Upon their swift arrival at the scene, the responding officers initially encountered difficulty in pinpointing the male who had been alluded to in the emergency call. But thanks to the dedicated persistence of an observant eyewitness on the scene, the officers were soon given directions to the suspect’s whereabouts.

The officers were guided to a parked vehicle just outside of the AT&T store, which was in the same shopping plaza as the TJ Maxx and sat several doors west of it. Inside the vehicle, they discovered the suspect linked to the reports they’d received.

Contact was established with the individuals present in the car, and through a thorough investigation, the officers correctly identified the suspect as a minor. A detailed search conducted by the officers uncovered a toy replica Glock pistol stashed in a holster inside the minor’s waistband.

Most disconcerting was the fact that the orange safety tip on the imitation firearm had been modified with what seemed to be a black marker, solidifying the concerns initially shared in the emergency call.

Reflecting on the successful resolution to the incident, the Public Information Officer, representing both the local law enforcement and the wider community, voiced relief, acknowledging multiple factors could have led to a myriad of devastating outcomes.

Appreciation was also extended to the vigilant eyewitness whose decision to act in that crucial moment greatly assisted in averting potential disaster. They did not merely place the initial emergency call, but also stayed on the site to guide the officers on their arrival. As a result, the law enforcement agencies were able to effectively react and manage the situation.

Using this close call as an opportunity to call for public vigilance, the local Police chief used the incident as a prime example of the importance of citizen awareness and intervention in maintaining public safety: if you see something suspicious, make sure to report it.

In praising the conduct of the officers who responded to the call, the police chief showed appreciation for their tactical skill in handling a potentially tragic incident. The chief used the incident as an urgent reminder for parents to monitor the toys their children use and resort to better discretion while purchasing items that mimic real firearms.

Post incident, the young offender involved was handled according to standard juvenile delinquency procedures and released from enforcement custody.

In an effort to trace back and understand the origins of the imitation Glock, the investigative team discovered that it had been bought online through an e-commerce platform, reinforcing the fact that such toy pistols are easily accessible.

Indeed, it is alarming how quickly such toys can be transformed into seemingly genuine firearms, once they are legally in possession of individuals. This raises serious implications for public safety.

As an outcome of this incident, on the 26th of August 2025, the young individual involved was formally charged with the possession of an imitation firearm based on a juvenile-delinquency complaint.