Dominic Lewis Isaacs faces court for forcing school into lockdown after pointing gel blaster at a staff member

A teenager brandishing a gel blaster forced a Toowoomba special school and worksite into lockdown, and prompted a massive police response.

A teenager who forced a school into lockdown, and triggered a tactical response from police by pointing what turned out to be an air gun at a person has faced court.

Dominic Lewis Isaacs, 18, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to presenting a firearm that would likely cause fear of bodily harm, unlawful possession of a Category H weapon, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a water pipe.

The court was told that about 1.07pm on August 19, 2021 police were tasked to Clifford Park Special School after reports a man at an address next door had pointed a firearm at a staff member working at the school.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson said the victim reported that a man had pointed a black pistol at him and motioned the pistol being fired, causing the staff member to run away.

“The actions of (Lewis) actually placed Clifford Park Special School into lockdown, as well as the nearby worksite that was evacuated,” Snr Constable Willson said.

The court was told police kept the property under observation until more units arrived, and a search was conducted which uncovered the weapon, a Beretta 92 style air gun, as well as a small amount of cannabis and a water pipe.

Isaacs’ solicitor Michael Corbin said his client’s actions were another example of an offence with a “godforsaken gel weapon”.

“If this person had been of infirm health, he could have suffered a heart attack from having been presented with what, to all intents and purposes, looked like a Beretta pistol,” Mr Corbin said.

“It beggars belief … that these organisations can sell these things without warning the purchasers of the risks they take in having those items in their possession.”

Mr Corbin said Issacs’ actions were “silly and immature” and that he had no realisation of the seriousness of what he was doing at the time.

“The very fact the police responded in the way they did, organising tactical officers as well, should have been a clear indication (of the seriousness of his actions),” Mr Corbin said.

“This is a matter of experience for my client … he is young, and the reality is he didn’t turn his mind to (how serious his actions were).”

Magistrate Graham Lee said Issacs made an “impetuous and stupid error” but acknowledged his young age was largely to blame for not understanding the seriousness.

Isaacs was handed a 18-month good behaviour bond of $1000 with no conviction recorded.