Boy, 12, faces gun charges in Oshawa after threats to shoot people made on Snapchat

A 12-year-old Oshawa boy faces gun and other charges after threats were made via social media to shoot a number of people.

A threatening call was reported shortly after 10 a.m. on Feb. 11, prompting a Durham Regional Police response. Officers subsequently investigated a video sent out on Snapchat, a messaging app, in which a person threatened to shoot multiple people.

Police did not describe who was targeted in the video.

A young boy was arrested a short time later. A search by officers of a home near Bloor Street and Ritson Road turned up a handgun and ammunition, police said.

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with six offences — four related to gun possession and two counts of uttering threats. His identity is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2766 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.