CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – University of Illinois Police on Wednesday night arrested a man for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of ammunition after someone reported that they were threatened with a gun.

The “gun” turned out to be a pellet gun loaded with real firearm ammunition. It would not have been capable of firing live rounds, but it would have looked exactly like a real firearm unless closely inspected.

A U. of I. Police officer patrolling on Green Street initially was flagged down by a person who reported that he saw another man – later identified as Cameron R. Griffin, 19, of Urbana – in the 300 block of East Green Street, Champaign, yell in his direction and display a weapon. The reporting person was familiar with Griffin and took the behavior as a threat.

Additional officers arrived within about a minute and safely detained Griffin. Police found what they initially thought was a gun in Griffin’s waistband.

Upon closer inspection, they realized that the pistol was a pellet gun with all the same markings as a real firearm. It had been loaded with a real magazine and live firearm ammunition.

Griffin was arrested for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of ammunition without a Firearm Owner’s Identification.

Please note, those arrested are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and formal charges may change as cases are adjudicated.