Bad Guys In The Neighbourhood

Last Sunday afternoon I was in my usual bird-watching area I heard what sounded like gun fire. The sounds caused me to pause and take a better look.  I was at a perfect vantage point where I could see two men but they couldn't see me. I realized they were shooting into the wooded area where I had walked just an hour or so earlier.  The road loops around in this area and these men were shooting across the loop thereby endangering anyone walking along that part of the path.  This area is frequented by dog walkers, joggers, and families out for a walk.

I took a few moments to photograph them with my zoom lens and willed them to move away from the licence plate so that I could get a shot of it too.  Here are those photos (with identification indicators marked out):

One man shooting into the area.

One gun lying on the trunk of the car.

The second man is reaching for one of two guns now on the trunk.

I then called 911 and explained the situation.  To me the guns looked like "real pistols" (although the reports were not as loud as I would have expected).  In any event, as I was making the call, the men got back in their car and drove down the road.  I relayed this to the 911 dispatcher and we ended the call after a few moments.  As I followed on foot down the road (which leads to a major boulevard) I began to hear sirens and as I got further along, I could hear the police on loud-speakers presumably ordering the men to exit their car.  They seemed to need a lot of persuading! Finally, when I got closer, I could see seven police cars, several officers standing by, and one of the men in the back of a cruiser - I didn't see the other man.  I identified myself to an officer and showed him my photos.  He told me that they were pellet guns but could easily be mistaken for regular pistols.  He said I had done the right thing to call them.

Later, as I was giving a written statement, I was told that what the men were doing was not criminal (unfortunately!) but that they would be given tickets.  

I hope these guys will not come into this nature area again.  Pellet guns or not, those projectiles can seriously injure people or kill animals.