Police are warning parents about toy guns being made to look like real guns. The latest incident happened in Willimantic Thursday morning.
"Around 9 a.m., we received a call from the school resource officer saying he had been looking at some online posts with a young female with a firearm pointed to her head," said Willimantic police Corporal Stanley Parizo.
After an investigation into the photo, police found the child and the gun. The gun looked identical to a revolver, but it turned out to be and airsoft pistol.
"There's no reason for our children to be in possession of this. This is inherently dangerous not only for law enforcement, but also for our children as a whole," said Parizo.
Parizo said the colorful markings on the airsoft pistol had been removed. In addition, the cartridges that can be bought at some big box stores made it look even more realistic, according to Parizo.
Investigators in Willimantic said the fake guns have spread beyond the city.
The Hartford Police Department recently recovered another fake gun late October.
Hartford Dep. Chief Brian Foley said the fake guns are being used in crimes, such as bank robberies.
"While it's not a real gun, it's sure as heck used as a real gun out in our streets at night. So we'd like to have them off the street," Foley said.
Police warn parents should be leery if they are considering one of the guns as a holiday gift.
"Please, if you're going to get your child an airsoft weapon system please do not have it with this realistic nature. Get one with an orange tip on it, something that is painted, something that does not look like a real firearm. This looks just like a real firearm,"Parizo said.
Parizo told NBC Connecticut that the gun never left the house.
The parents could have faced charges, if it left the home, depending on how the weapon was used or displayed and to where it was taken.
