Police say 9-year-old pulled handgun during Cedar Rapids assault

Police are investigating after a 9-year-old boy accused a classmate of pushing him down and pulling a handgun Thursday afternoon.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said the boy's mother called police around 4:10 p.m. after she talked to her son. According to the report, the boy was riding his bike on 16th Street SE near Bever Avenue SE or Fourth Avenue SE when another 9-year-old boy approached him, called him some names and pushed him off his bike. The suspect then threw a rock at the other boy and reportedly displayed a handgun.

"He knows the other kid, and there have been some ongoing issues," Hamblin said.

The boy who was pushed had minor injuries but did not require medical treatment, police said.

Police are basing the report solely on the recollection of the 9-year-old victim, because police have not located any other witnesses. The boy's mother told police she believes her son, and police are investigating the report as being legitimate. Hamblin said police were going to visit the school both boys attend Friday morning in an attempt to talk to the boy accused of having the gun.

"Not too many 9-year-olds would probably know the difference between the real thing and some of the look-alikes," Hamblin said. "I would hope it wasn't a real gun."