Popular YouTuber among 3 arrested after shouting, ‘He has a gun!’ in packed movie theater for online clout
Three individuals, including a well-known YouTuber, have been arrested after police say they deliberately caused panic by falsely shouting that someone had a gun inside a busy movie theater in Whitby, Ontario.
Durham Regional Police reported that 23-year-old Fique Wamiq Ayub, 23-year-old Jaiden Joseph-Anthony Mosquera, and a 17-year-old were taken into custody following an incident at Landmark Cinemas on March 17. Authorities say the group staged the disruption as part of a planned stunt intended for online content.
Ayub, who runs a YouTube channel under the name “Fique” with over 1.2 million subscribers, had previously posted videos showing him and others entering cinemas and engaging in disruptive behavior. In one instance captured on video, members of the group can be heard repeatedly shouting that a person inside the theater had a firearm.
The false warnings caused moviegoers to panic and rush out of the theater. In the footage, Ayub and another individual can also be seen briefly leaving the building before returning and repeating claims that there was an armed person inside, escalating confusion among patrons.
Police said that when officers arrived, the group initially claimed they were filming a vlog and denied mentioning a weapon. Investigators later concluded that the incident was intentionally staged to provoke a reaction for social media engagement. Officers also indicated they were already familiar with the group due to similar prior incidents in the area.
All three individuals have been charged with mischief and causing a disturbance. They were released on an undertaking while the case proceeds.
No physical injuries were reported, but police are asking anyone who recorded the incident to provide any available footage to assist the investigation.
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