The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 24-year-old man who scared his girlfriend with a fake gun was yesterday discharged with a warning.

Joseph Gordon was charged with possession of an imitation firearm intending to put another in fear, after his replica gun prompted the siblings of his girlfriend, Terrel Forbes, to file a police report against him on May 16.

The court was told that around 11.30 that night, Ms Forbes’ brother told police that he got a call from his other sister saying that Ms Forbes had been held at gunpoint by Gordon. As a result of their complaint, police proceeded to Ms Forbes and Gordon’s residence to arrest the accused.

The prosecution said officers also recovered the imitation firearm while they were there. He was taken to a nearby station where he owned up to the offence in an interview with police.

When Gordon appeared before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis, he pleaded guilty.

He also told the magistrate that that day he was inside playing with the gun when Ms Forbes walked into the room and assumed the weapon was a real firearm. Gordon said he and his friends were avid fans of the Call of Duty video game, so he bought the fake weapon to re-enact wars with his buddies in the park. He added that he didn’t tell his girlfriend about the gun because if she had known, she would not have allowed him to participate in the sessions.

Ms Forbes was also present at the hearing. She told the magistrate that Gordon never threatened her with the gun, but she got fearful and panicked when she saw him with it. She said she then called her siblings who ended up filing a police report on her behalf.

After listening to their explanations, Magistrate Rolle Davis urged Gordon to exercise good sense in the future and dismissed his case.