GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — RCMP in northwestern Alberta are praising two young kids for doing the right thing when they found a loaded handgun ditched by a shooting suspect.
"The children were astute enough to not touch the weapon and immediately notified a parent," Grande Prairie RCMP said in a release.
Officers were called to the city's west side on Wednesday to investigate reports of shots being fired at a business.
A male suspect fired at some people before taking off in a vehicle with police in pursuit.
Somewhere along the way he tossed the weapon.
Ayrabella Metselaar, who is six, and her five-year-old brother, Junah, found the gun in their backyard.
"At the time you dismiss it, right, because you've got a five year old and a six year old and their imaginations go wild," said the kids' dad, Darren Metselaar.
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/gun5#@</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"what could be a gun to them could be a garden scoop or any other inanimate object. as a parent i feel proud, but at the same time very, very blessed and lucky and just so happy nothing bad happened."</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
ayrabella and junah were given a tour of the rcmp detachment thursday, as well as awards, for doing the right thing.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
matthew james bergeson, 32, of grande prairie is to appear in court monday on 15 charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and various weapon counts.</div>.jpg)
MORE National ARTICLES
London Calling? Canadians Eye U.K. Vacations After Brexit Vote Weakens Pound
CALGARY — Travel companies say more Canadians are looking at vacations in the United Kingdom because of the dropping British pound in the wake of the country's decision to leave the European Union.
London Calling? Canadians Eye U.K. Vacations After Brexit Vote Weakens Pound
Quebec Research Team Attempts Rescue Of Hours-old Beluga Calf Found On Shoreline
RIVIERE DU LOUP, Que. — A washed-up baby beluga prompted a major rescue effort in Quebec last week, highlighting researchers' struggles to reverse the endangered population's decline.
Quebec Research Team Attempts Rescue Of Hours-old Beluga Calf Found On Shoreline
Beheaded Canadian's Body Dug Up In Southern Philippines
Philippine troops on Saturday dug up what they believe is the body of Canadian hostage Robert Hall, who was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf extremists more than two weeks ago in the south after a ransom deadline lapsed.
Beheaded Canadian's Body Dug Up In Southern Philippines
PQ Leadership Candidate Says Trudeau's Canada Day Video Insulted Quebecers
MONTREAL — A Parti Quebecois leadership candidate is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to retract comments he made referring to Canada as "one nation" in a Canada Day video message.
PQ Leadership Candidate Says Trudeau's Canada Day Video Insulted Quebecers
Six Months After Arrival, Syrian Refugees Eager For Jobs In New Country
QUEENSLAND, N.S. — The journey from life in war-torn Syria to a sense of belonging in Canada is both sweet and sad for refugee families like those of Ziad Zeina, as they settle into a pattern of job hunting and prayers for loved ones lost or absent.
Six Months After Arrival, Syrian Refugees Eager For Jobs In New Country
Homicide Officers Investigating After Body Found In Surrey’s Bog Park
Investigators say the man was found lying in the area of Bog Park and appeared to be the victim of a gunshot wound.