A teenager and his mother who were magnet fishing pulled a rifle out of Green Creek near the Ottawa River, the Ottawa Police Service said Thursday.

On May 13, 12-year-old Nathan Sirois was magnet fishing with his mother, Melanie, when his line caught something unexpected for him.

Alerted by the two magnet fishermen, a team from the Ottawa Police Service was able to retrieve the gun from the water.

“Someone had thrown her in the water so she wouldn't be found; it may therefore be evidence of a crime,” said officer Caroline Gallant.

The weapon will be appraised and will be tested to try to determine if it is linked to criminal acts, according to the Ottawa police.

The practice of magnet fishing involves clearing the shoreline of metal debris that is often not very visible, for environmental, safety and recovery purposes.