Teenager gets probation for dropping pellet gun from pocket in liquor store

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 24, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A 19-year-old Hat man has been given one year probation after what appeared to be a gun fell out of his waistband at a city liquor store last year.

The matter was heard Thursday morning in Medicine Hat provincial court where a jointly recommended sentence from defence and Crown attorneys was accepted.

The man was reported to police last fall after a store clerk who’d received payment for a purchase heard a thump and saw what she thought was a pistol fall to the floor. The man retrieved what was later determined to be a pellet gun, put it in his pocket and left.

On Thursday he stated it was a “stupid” thing to bring the gun with him. He felt he had a casual acquaintance with the clerk, had no ill intention and apologized to the court for frightening her.

Court heard the man is employed and attempting to complete high school.

He will report to a probation officer for the next 12 months and is subject to a five-year ban on owning or possessing fire arms.