Video posted online appears to show the moment a person yelled they had a gun while inside a Whitby movie theatre full of people, in what Durham police say was an effort to film the reaction for social media.
The stunt, which occurred at around 11:20 p.m. on March 17 at Landmark Cinemas on Consumers Drive, has led police to arrest three males.
The video posted on YouTube a few days after the incident has more than 600,000 views as of Tuesday.
In the video, one person is heard yelling, “He’s not kidding; he has a gun,” inside the theatre.
Those involved are later seen speaking to police officers outside the theatre.
Police said in a news release on Tuesday that the yelling forced customers to leave the theatre.
“Officers arrived on scene and were directed toward three males who had left the theatre.”
Police said they later learned that the males staged the disturbance.
“Further investigation revealed that the males were creating social media content and had intentionally created a false disturbance to generate a reaction they could film,” the news release read.
Three Ajax residents, including two 23-year-old men and a 17-year-old, were subsequently charged.
They face charges including causing a disturbance and mischief.
Police are asking anyone with dash camera or surveillance footage to contact Const. McGregor of Central West Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2060.
