Police say Arthur
Roy, of Helena, got "angry" with a student he had befriended on
Facebook after the boy gave up a subplot to "Star Wars: The
Force Awakens" during an online conversation last week.
During the online fight that ensued, Roy is alleged to have
posted a photo of himself in which he appears to brandish a gun,
which he indicates is a Colt 1911 with a "hair trigger,"
according to a probable cause affidavit.
The affidavit also says the boy was fearful Roy was going to
come to "shoot him."
Roy also said he was "coming to find" the boy, whose school was
placed on security "lock down" after officials saw the exchange,
according to the affidavit.
"The victim was afraid it was a legitimate threat," said Melissa
Broch, a deputy attorney for Lewis & Clark County. "The victim
believed that the defendant might come to his school and harm
him."
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opened with a record-breaking
$248 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office, and $529
million globally over its opening weekend, Walt Disney Co said
on Monday.
The film marks the seventh installment in a newly rebooted "Star
Wars" franchise.
Roy was arrested on Friday on suspicion of assault with a
weapon, a felony. He made an initial appearance in Lewis & Clark
County Justice Court on Monday, after which he was ordered held
on $10,000 bail, Broch said.
It was unclear whether Roy was still in custody, Broch said. He
is likely to be arraigned in a state district court at some
point in January, she said.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Sara
Catania)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
|