A 15-year-old girl was reportedly shot in the ankle by a man wielding two Airsoft handguns in Aberdeen a week ago, according to a statement released Friday by Aberdeen Police Lt. Kevin Darst.

Police were advised around 3:15 p.m. on May 18 that numerous calls to 911 described a man wearing black clothing brandishing two firearms, initially described as shotguns, at people at the corner of West Marion and Exchange streets. Reports claimed he had pointed the weapons at a group of kids and was walking westbound on Marion. One witness claimed the man was pointing shotguns at passing cars and said he believed the suspect fired on an orange Nova.

Officers soon located the suspect at Marion and Mill Street and recognized the man as someone they have dealt with in the past, said Darst. He was standing on the northwest corner of the intersection and had what appeared to be semi-automatic pistols in each hand. The officers were armed with a Tazer, rifles and a shotgun with less lethal flexible baton rounds, also known as bean bag projectiles.

The officers ordered the man to drop the guns but at first he did not comply, said Darst. Threatened with the Tazer, he dropped the firearms, but refused commands to back away from them. Two officers approached him while other officers covered them. They were able to handcuff the man even though he resisted. He was arrested and transported to Grays Harbor Community Hospital for an involuntary mental health hold.

It was later determined that the weapons he had were Airsoft pellet guns, which normally have the end of the barrel painted or made of bright orange plastic to denote they aren’t actual firearms. The man had used a black marking pen to obscure the orange, making them indistinguishable from a real firearm, said Darst. They did not locate any shotguns and determined that the pistols were mistakenly identified.

Officers located a 15-year-old victim who was shot in the ankle as she was running away with her 14-year-old brother. “I was scared and crying and thought I was going to die,” she told police. She and her brother ran to a friend’s house.

Charges were forwarded to the City of Aberdeen Prosecuting Attorney for consideration of charges of fourth-degree assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.