A number of West Shore RCMP officers were called out to Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood Wednesday evening after reports of a man carrying what appeared to be a firearm.
Police were called at around 6:45 p.m. Witnesses reported that several officers were heavily armed.
Officers found a man and woman sitting on the beach with not a firearm, but a crossbow. Investigations determined that the man was target shooting along the waterfront.
There were several cans of beer found around the pair, as well as a target block down the beach from their location.
The pair, a 32-year-old man and 31-year-old woman both from Colwood, were issued a $230 ticket for open liquor.
The crossbow was seized, and police are still investigating.