Drunk Man In PJs Waves 'Gun' At Peninsula Bystanders: Cops

SAN MATEO, CA — A drunk man was arrested in San Mateo on Thursday after waving a realistic-looking weapon at several bystanders in town, prompting the fearful people to call police for help, officials say.

It happened around 2 p.m. in the area of 31st Avenue and South El Camino Real, according to the San Mateo Police Department.

"Witnesses told dispatchers they saw the man point the gun at multiple bystanders and described him as wearing a white t-shirt and blue pajama bottoms," police said in a news release

Responding officers located the man, identified 31-year-old Broderick Rushing of East Palo Alto,, walking into a main entrance of the Hillsdale Shopping Center with the gun in his left hand. Police were able to take him into custody without incident.

Police soon discovered that Rushing appeared to be intoxicated during the arrest — and that the weapon was a replica, according to police.

"During his arrest, officers determined the man was intoxicated," police said. "Officers inspected the gun and learned at that time it was a black BB gun that strongly resembled a semi-automatic handgun."

Rushing was ultimately arrested on suspicion of brandishing a replica gun, public intoxication and violation of probation, police said.

Police said Rushing purchased the gun from a Big 5 Sporting Goods store just prior to the brandishing incident, and investigators are looking into the sale of the gun by the store to an intoxicated man.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Image via San Mateo Police Department