Some of the guns are believed to be real while others are fake, police say

The VPD says officers have seized a number of firearms from a tent in Oppenheimer Park

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There’s been an alarming discovery in Oppenheimer Park this week.

Vancouver police say officers came across a bunch of guns while responding to a call about a domestic dispute on Tuesday.

“Firearms believed to be possibly real and definitely a few fake ones,” Sgt. Aaron Roed said. “The firearms were located inside of a tent, which appears to be used by a number of people, so it’s not based to one specific individual.”

The firearms were not claimed and no one has been arrested.

“The firearms were seized and have been tagged as evidence,” Roed added. “We are checking with our officers to see an analysis of these weapons to see if they are real or fake. This all reverts back to public safety and officers doing what we can for people inside of Oppenheimer.”

The park has a been a hotbed for violence on the Downtown Eastside since it became home to dozens of homeless campers. It’s been a point on contention between local residents, the Park Board, and the city, which has tried to force people living there to move on.

Police have also voiced concerns about the area, however, some groups who have been working with people at the encampment have said the situation appears to be getting better.

“Vancouver Police have not changed our position and stance of Oppenheimer Park,” Roed said. “We’re going to continue to have officers visible, highly visible in the area, a continued increased officer presence. We will be continuing to respond to calls as needed, and maintaining the public safety in the area, as well as surrounding community, is our priority, and that will always be our priority.”