In Skokie, Illinois, authorities have categorized a recent incident involving the use of a “gel blaster” toy gun by a teenager in a local park as a hate crime. This classification was announced by police on Friday.

The Skokie Police Department reported that officers were called to Shawnee Park at approximately 6 p.m. on October 7. The call was in response to a dispute involving two groups of teenagers, whose ages ranged from 13 to 15 years.

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According to one group, their counterparts used antisemitic slurs and pursued them. During the altercation, someone from the opposing group fired gel pellets from a toy gun. The confrontation continued onto a nearby street, where one teen reported being struck in the leg by a pellet.

The Skokie police conducted interviews with the involved teenagers and several adult witnesses to gather more information about the incident.

Following their investigation, the police department determined the battery incident qualified as a hate crime. They have identified the teenager suspected of firing the gel blaster.

Police said their investigation is complete, but the department is unable to provide further information about any actions taken related to the teen who allegedly used the gel blaster.

Police also said reports of an adult responding to the scene with a real gun are not credible.

Further information was not immediately available.