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At 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, Tigard Police responded to a report of three young men on top of the parking garage at the Washington Square Mall (9700 block of SW Washington Square Road). The caller reported they were on top of a car, dancing around with what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle and a handgun. At one point, one of the young men pointed the rifle over the edge of the parking structure, toward the area of the mall.
While police were en route, the caller updated officers that the young men put the guns away inside a car and were heading toward the mall entrance. Responding officers detained them and learned the weapons were realistic looking replica BB guns.
The young men, two 18-year-olds and one 16-year-old, are all relatives from Beaverton. The circumstances of this case do not meet the statutory requirements for criminal charges. They have been released to their parents and have all been trespassed from the Washington Square Mall.
We are thankful nobody was hurt. This call drew a large police response due to the initial concern for public safety. If you or your children have replica weapons, this is a good reminder to have a conversation with them about how they can easily be mistaken for real weapons and should never be used in public.
Photos of the replica weapons are attached.
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