Boy charged after ‘firing toy weapon’ in Westfield West Lakes Shopping Centre

A boy of 11 has been charged after allegedly shooting a toy gun inside a popular Adelaide shopping centre, injuring a shopper.

An 11-year-old boy has been charged after shooting a toy weapon inside a Westfield shopping centre in West Lakes. Picture: File

A boy of 11 has been charged after allegedly shooting a toy gun inside a popular Adelaide shopping centre.

Police were called to the West Lakes Shopping Centre just before 11am on Sunday after reports a female shopper was assaulted “with a sharp projectile”.

A police spokeswoman on Sunday night said officers will allege the boy, who cannot be identified under state law, inserted the projectile “in a toy, allowing it to be fired”.

The member of the public, who was not identified, was treated at the scene for her injury, the spokeswoman said.

She said shopping centre security helped police apprehend the youth while in possession of the toy.

The 11-year-old boy has been charged with assault and carry offensive weapon in a school or public place.

He was bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Youth Court in April.

The police spokeswoman said investigations are continuing.

She refused to say last night what type of toy it was or any further details including where the boy was from.

It is the latest in a line of shopping centre incidents including the Westfield Bondi Junction attack in Sydney last year.

Westfield Marion was locked down last year after a teenage brawl, meanwhile a boy has been arrested after a brawl at the company’s Tea Tree Plaza site.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Originally published as Boy charged after ‘firing toy weapon’ in Westfield West Lakes Shopping Centre