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
Harjit Sajjan Announces $12 Million For New Ramps At 5 Wing Goose Bay In Labrador
Sajjan says in a statement that the funding for 5 Wing Goose Bay will be used to replace ramps that have reached their life expectancy.
Harjit Sajjan Announces $12 Million For New Ramps At 5 Wing Goose Bay In Labrador
Ikea Canada Issues Safety Recall For Wide Range Of Chests Of Drawers
The Swedish furniture multinational says it will repair or pay a refund for chests of drawers that don't meet North American safety standards.
Ikea Canada Issues Safety Recall For Wide Range Of Chests Of Drawers
Aboriginal Canadians Victims Of Crime More Often Than Non-Aboriginals: Statcan
OTTAWA — A new report from Statistics Canada suggests aboriginal Canadians were nearly three times as likely to experience sexual assault in 2014 as their non-aboriginal counterparts.
Aboriginal Canadians Victims Of Crime More Often Than Non-Aboriginals: Statcan
As Fort McMurray Rebuilds, Fire Chief Wants More Wildfire Resilience
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — The man who led the fight against the wildfire that devastated parts of Fort McMurray in May is urging changes to the way homes are rebuilt to avoid similar destruction in the future.
As Fort McMurray Rebuilds, Fire Chief Wants More Wildfire Resilience
Rising Debt Of Canada's Provinces, Municipalities Fiscally Unsustainable: Pbo
The parliamentary budget office says at the combined net debt of Canada's so-called subnational governments — currently at 32.5 per cent of GDP — is projected to rise to more than 200 per cent over the next 75 years.
Rising Debt Of Canada's Provinces, Municipalities Fiscally Unsustainable: Pbo
Conrad Black Withdraws Request For Tax Hearing Regarding His House Sale
TORONTO — The Federal Court says former media baron Conrad Black has withdrawn his request for an emergency hearing related to tax liens that have been placed on his Toronto home.