HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man is charged with threatening to shoot a boy for sharing information about a subplot of the new “Star Wars” movie during an online conversation.
Arthur Charles Roy, of Helena, was charged with felony assault with a weapon Monday during an appearance in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court. He remains jailed with his bail set at $10,000.
Roy, 18, became angry Thursday when he learned details about “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” from a Facebook friend, prosecutors said.
Roy sent the friend a picture of himself with a gun and threatened to come to the victim’s school to shoot him, court records said. Roy reportedly said the gun was a Colt 1911 with a “hair trigger.”
The friend called a school resource officer Thursday afternoon to report the threat.
Helena’s alternative high school was locked down Friday morning after students said they were afraid Roy might follow through with his threat. Police arrested Roy on Friday afternoon. He declined to answer questions on the advice of his attorney, court records said.
Roy’s mother asked why her son was being arrested since it was only a BB gun in the photo, charging documents said.
Chris Abbott, Roy’s public defender in an ongoing separate case, wasn’t immediately available to comment Tuesday. It’s not clear if Abbott has been assigned to this case.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Trump says he wouldn’t shoot leakers but he hates them almost as much as reporters so he can certainly sympathise with the teen.
Roy’s mother asked why her son was being arrested since it was only a BB gun in the photo, charging documents said.
I know kids are capable of extremely horrible things, but it really is pretty rare. You know what isn’t rare though? Kids saying stupid things and making foolish threats. This sounds like a monster over-reaction, unless the kid has a history of violence and instability. Especially if the ‘gun’ in question was really of the bb variety.
Yes, ignoring early warning signs is probably the most prudent course to take here.