Indian-American held for brandishing gun, setting off panic at gay pride parade in US

An Indian-American was arrested in the US for threatening a person with a BB gun and causing a stampede during an LGBTQ pride parade here, leaving several people injured as thousands of participants fled in a panic fearing a mass shooter. Aftabjit Singh, 38, pulled out the gun after another person allegedly threatened his "significant other" in the Dupont Circle neighbourhood of Washington, DC, police said.

The police arrested him and his BB gun -- a type of air gun designed to shoot metallic ball projectiles -- was captured from his brown bag. Singh has been charged with the illegal possession of a BB gun, carrying a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. He is due in court on Monday.

The chaotic scene was seen in downtown Washington DC Saturday after word spread like a wildfire among the thousands of participants of the annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) pride parade that someone was carrying a gun. The city police on Sunday said Singh pulled the BB gun after another person allegedly threatened his significant other. The alert police immediately arrested him and his BB gun was captured from his brown bag.

According to the NBC Washington, numerous people told News4 that they heard gunshots, but police said there was no evidence of a shooting. "Police say one concerned citizen flagged down an officer, Blaise Maio, and pointed out Singh and a brown bag under a tree. Maio saw the suspect head towards the bag and stopped him. In the partially open bag, Maio reported he saw what appeared to be a silver handgun," the news report said.

"It was later determined that the gun was not a real handgun, but an imitation pistol that Singh identified as a BB gun," the news report said. Police said although no gunshots were fired, hundreds of people ran in panic, knocking down police barricades in the stampede fearing that a gunman had opened fire on the crowd of revellers.

Seven people were taken to hospitals for injuries they suffered while fleeing, authorities said. According to the police, while in custody, Singh threatened to shoot the person who had threatened his "significant other".

As he was led away in handcuffs, Singh vowed to come back. "I will be back," he said according to a police report. A woman who police said was with Singh also was charged with assaulting a police officer, according to the police.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)