A man in camo and gun was seen to have run from an entertainment venue, triggering public panic and the involvement of police in Shanxi province last Friday.

According to Hantai Public Security Bureau in Shanxi, a call at around 10 pm alerted officials of a man running from Wanbang Times Square into an inner street, Beijing Morning Post reported.

The bureau immediately asked the military, armed police force and fire brigade for help. Video surveillance showed the man throwing a camo bag and gun over glass fence, then cautiously jumping over himself and running off.

After a whole night searching, a man was found on the fifth floor of the shopping mall resembling the suspect, who turned out to be a 170cm high 13-year-old boy.

He said that he was a big fan of the military and likes wearing similar-style clothes, and had only been passing Wanbang Square not realizing he had caused such huge attention. The boy added that the gun was a toy.

Being under 14 years old, the boy was disciplined by his parents and taken home.

It was reported more than 100 military policemen worked over 18 hours to apprehend the culprit, which is a huge drain on public resources.