Washington: A 38-year-old Indian-American was arrested here for threatening a person with a BB gun and causing a stampede during a gay pride parade, leaving several people injured as thousands of participants fled in panic fearing a mass shooter. Aftabjit Singh pulled out the gun after another person allegedly threatened his "significant other" in the Dupont Circle neighbourhood of Washington, DC, police said.

The police arrested him and seized his BB gun -- a type of air gun designed to shoot metallic ball projectiles -- from his brown bag. He has been charged with the illegal possession of a BB gun, carrying a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. He is due in court on Monday. Singh claimed "he pulled out the gun on an unidentified individual who was hitting his significant other", the police said. Officers arrested a second person -- Melissa Duffy, 43, -- who identified herself as Singh's "significant other" on a single charge of 'Assault on A Police Officer-Simple Assault', Washington Blade news reported. Duffy, whom police identified as 'suspect 1', was contacted after Singh's arrest. "Suspect 1 began to become irate and started to kick and scream towards officers. Suspect 1 kicked Victim 1 (a police officer) in the chest and right arm causing the listed injuries," the report said, adding that "all parties refused medical treatment".