Wilmington police: Boy, 14, found with loaded handgun

Tips reporting a person with a gun led to the arrest of a 14-year-old with a loaded handgun, Wilmington police said Monday afternoon.

Police responding to tips about 5:15 p.m. Sunday found a juvenile matching the reported description in the area of 26th and North Heald streets, Master Sgt. Donald Bluestein said.

As Officer Matthew Geiser approached him, he fled, Bluestein said.

As officers chased him, the boy took a gun from his waistband and threw it, he said.

The boy then was taken into custody, he said.

The gun, which landed in a nearby driveway, was recovered and found to be a loaded .45-caliber handgun, he said.

The boy, whose address was not disclosed, was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and deadly weapon by a prohibited person.

He was committed to the New Castle County Detention Center near Prices Corner after failing to post $11,000 secured bail.

Bluestein praised those who called to alert police to the armed suspect, in a statement calling the arrest an example of the public relaying significant tips “and working with the police to make the city safer.”

Police ask anyone with additional information about the case to call the Criminal Investigations Division at (302) 576-3620 or the Wilmington Police Confidential Tip Line at (302) 576-03990. Information also may be sent by anonymous texts, starting with the words TIP WILMINGTON to 888777.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.