Abbotsford Police thought a gun had been fired while they were investigating a report of masked suspects near the Aldergrove-Abbotsford border early this morning.
Additional officers – about a dozen in total – from Abbotsford Police and Langley RCMP were called to the scene, and three suspects were found.
But the situation intensified when the trio disobeyed orders to raise their hands and lie on the ground, instead fleeing on foot.
Const. Ian MacDonald said officers were concerned that a gunman was on the loose, but they were soon to learn otherwise.
The incident began at about 1:30 a.m., when a private security officer contacted police and reported that several masked suspects had been spotted in a new housing development north of the 27000 block of Fraser Highway.
When police arrived, they approached two vehicles parked at the side of the road. A 17-year-old girl said her friends had left one of the cars for a bathroom break.
During that conversation, a loud bang was heard.
Shortly after, three suspects appeared on the street in front of officers. When they ran off, a dog unit was deployed and officers contained the area.
Two boys, 16 and 17 years old, were located, along with a ski mask and balaclava.
It was determined that the group had toilet-papered and egged a home and several vehicles at that residence. The loud bang was a firecracker.
MacDonald said the group, all from Abbotsford, had targeted a fellow student over "drama taking place at high school."
He said the youths will face mischief charges.