Police find two boys carrying AR-15 on Philadelphia street

Philadelphia police are asking parents to make sure their weapons are secured after an officer arrested a 19-year-old and a 12-year-old who had been walking the streets with loaded guns.

Police Officer Krzyszpof Wrzesinski had his hands full when he pulled up to the 2200 block of Kennedy Street Saturday night after a report of a person with a gun. That's when he saw two boys, a 19-year-old and a 12-year-old, matching the 9-1-1 callers description, according to the officer.

"He reached for the AR for the automatic weapon. That's when I yelled for him to stop," Police Officer Krzyszpof Wrzesinski told FOX 29.

Police say the 4-year veteran immediately took control of the situation--detained the two boys and secured a fully-loaded AR-15 style assault weapon and a loaded handgun. That's when he found out from witnesses what had happened.

"These AR-15s are crazy. You don't know where it's gonna go once it starts," neighbor Patrick Doyle said.

Investigators say it all started with 19-year-old Michael Mitchell confronting a neighbor across the street from his home with the loaded .40 caliber handgun.

"He directs a 12-year-old--who lives at the same location he does--to get his gun out of the house, which was an assault rifle," Northeast Detectives Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum explained.

Officer Wrzesinski arrived a moment later. He quickly arrested Mitchell and the other boy, then secured the weapons. Police say the AR-15 was legally purchased by the 19-year-old, but they say the legally owned handgun was taken from his mother's locked gun safe.

"She's saying he did not have permission and she came forward right away," Lt. Rosenbaum said.

"It was the first time that happened to me on the job. It was a little bit of a shocker," Officer Wrzesinski said.

He insists his training lead to the arrests without any shots being fired.

"The disturbing issue is there's a 12-year-old coming down the street with a rifle," Lt. Rosenbaum added.

Police are still trying to find out where Mitchell purchased the AR-15. He could face further charges after his mother told police he did not have permission to take the handgun from that safe. The 12-year-old is being charged as a juvenile. He was not identified by police.