Teenager with gun in KATU video arrested

By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 20, 2012 at 11:38 PM PDT
Teenager with gun in KATU video arrested
A teenager with an Airsoft pistol was captured on video by a KATU News photographer being chased by safety patrol volunteers near the Lloyd Center MAX station.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A 17-year-old boy was arrested Friday after he was recorded by a KATU News crew last week carrying a handgun and being chased near the Lloyd Center MAX stop.

The gun, police said, turned out to be an Airsoft pistol, but the orange tip that distinguished it from a real handgun had been removed.

The 17-year-old was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct and was excluded from riding TriMet buses or MAX trains, police said.

Last Friday, a KATU News crew happened to arrive at the MAX stop to work on a story about crime on MAX trains when it recorded on video the teenager running with the gun from a volunteer safety patrol group known as the Guardian Angels.  

The group had apparently confronted the teenager at or near the MAX stop when he took off running. Two safety patrol members pursued him but the teenager outran them.

Police used KATU’s video to assist in identifying the suspect. They contacted the teenager who agreed to turn himself in.

Watch the original video. Warning: Video contains expletives.