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CNY school hoops game cut short by teen with gun

Authorities say a 14-year-old boy is in custody after an armed encounter with Utica police when he dropped a pistol while attending a basketball game. More from WAMC’s Dave Lucas

Officials tell local media outlets that an off-duty Utica police officer was at Tuesday night's girls modified basketball game at a middle school when he heard something hit the hardwood floor and noticed a teenage boy picking up a handgun.

The officer yelled to another officer who was on duty during the game. Both officers chased the teen as he ran out of the gym.

Police say the officers repeatedly ordered the teen to drop the gun as he pointed the weapon at them. The boy eventually dropped the weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun.

The game was called off.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.