Gungahlin brawlers caught with gel-blaster handgun and large knife, police allege

Police were called to the scene of an alleged fight behind a Gungahlin gym. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

A fight between two groups of men in northern Canberra on the weekend resulted in officers seizing a replica handgun from one of the brawlers, police allege.

Police were called to the back of a gym in Gozzard Street, Gungahlin, at about 10 pm on Sunday (9 March) after receiving reports of a fight between two groups of men, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

When the officers found one of the groups, they saw one of the men allegedly try to hide an item nearby.

The officers seized the item and allegedly found it to be a gel blaster firearm closely resembling a Glock handgun.

The man who allegedly tried to hide it, a 22-year-old from Sutton in NSW, was arrested and charged with possessing a prohibited firearm and discharging a firearm in a public place.

Meanwhile, the officers also allegedly found a second man in the group had a large knife.

This man will be charged via a summons for possessing a knife in a public place.

“ACT Policing reminds the community that gel blaster firearms are prohibited and significant penalties can apply if a person is found to be in possession of these items,” a police spokesperson said.

Last month police allegedly found a gel blaster display wall in Richardson.

“We understand many people believe these items are toys,” ACT Policing said on social media after posting the news of this incident.

“However, gel blasters and replica firearms are designed to look exactly like the real thing.

“They have been used to commit serious crimes such as aggravated robberies where victims rightly believe they are being threatened with a deadly weapon.”