A 19-year-old Guilford youth and his 17-year-old friend were arrested at Wal-Mart last night after they apparently played out their version of a military video game. Only this video, which they recorded as they lived it, used live customers shopping inside the big box store.
Branford police arrived at Wal-Mart’s, 120 Commercial Parkway, shortly after 7 p.m., after receiving a call from an employee about an unsettling scene unfolding in the store. The employee described one of the teens as saying he was going to “snap.” He pointed a toy guy at little kids in the store, while yelling, “Headshot, headshot.”
Sgt. Stanley Konesky III, the supervisor on duty, said that Officer Rashaad Roach arrived and detained two Guilford boys after determining they were both involved in numerous disturbing, threatening acts against customers.
Their behavior included military type crawling throughout the store, sneaking up behind customers, tapping on the floor and then yelling “bang” when the customer looked at them.
They were also observed climbing on store racks, where from their vantage point they pretended to “pick people off,” yelling, “headshot,” in this instance a reference to a bullet or a shot aimed at hitting the head. Apparently the teens left a trail of evidence. Konesky said the teenagers’ actions were recorded on one of their smart phones.
Joseph O’Buck, 19, of 78 Granite Road, Guilford was arrested and charged with threatening in the first degree, breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor. He was released on a written promise to appear in New Haven Superior Court on March 10 at 9 a.m.
The second teenager, a 17- year ‑old juvenile from Guilford, was referred to Juvenile Court on similar charges. His name was not released. He was later released to his parents.
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Joseph O'Buck, thanks for proving that 19 is the new 12.