Alarming photo sparks NYPD investigation, but cause likely innocuous
NEW YORK - The NYPD has issued a "be on the lookout" alert after a woman carrying what appears to be a weapon was photographed on Staten Island.
The photos were taken Friday at the Midland Beach parking lot by a retired member of the NYPD, CBS New York reported.
It is not yet clear if the weapon the person was spotted carrying is an actual assault rifle or paintball gun.
Another photo shows two additional people holding what appear to be weapons.
Late Friday afternoon, police said there was likely no threat.
"As part of the ongoing investigation, NYPD firearms experts conducted a forensic examination of the photographs," police said in a statement The preliminary opinion of these experts was that the weapons in the pictures strongly resemble replicas of firearms used in 'paintball' games.
The statement went on to say, "Interviews conducted by NYPD and FBI investigators in New Jersey have revealed that the registered owner of one of the vehicles indicated that he was planning to go paintball shooting with friends today."
However, the NYPD said the investigation would continue.
The Coast Guard station at Fort Wadsworth was briefly locked down briefly as a result of the security alert.
Military installations in the New York area were among those that stepped up security as a result of the attack on two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Thursday. Four Marines were shot to death by a gunman who also died.