COEUR d’ALENE — Police responded to a Friday morning report of a student outside Coeur d’Alene High School with what appeared to be a firearm. It turned out to be a water gun.

A community member reported seeing a student “with what looked like a gun” around 10 a.m. Friday, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. Officers were already on scene for a different matter, authorities said, and more officers arrived on campus soon after. 

“Officers quickly discovered that the student was playing a game with a toy water gun and wasn’t a threat to anyone at the school,” a news release said. “While the student’s actions were not intended to cause harm, the situation highlighted the potential for misunderstandings that could lead to serious consequences.” 

Parents should speak with their children about the risks of bringing items that resemble guns to school, an action that can trigger police responses “and potentially disastrous outcomes,” authorities said. 

“Educating children about the seriousness of this issue is important to ensuring safety within the school,” a news release said.