'Stupid' but 'not criminal': Judge acquits teen for pointing fake gun at The Last of Us set
Alberta teenager faced weapons and mischief charges
An Alberta teen who pointed what looked like a rifle at the set for HBO's The Last of Us, causing a costly production shutdown, has been acquitted on all charges.
Reece Wadden, who was 18 at the time, faced charges of mischief, unlawful use of an imitation firearm and possession of a weapon stemming from the incident last June in Olds, Alta.
On Tuesday, Calgary Justice Brian Stevenson acquitted Wadden, finding he did not have the intent to disrupt the filming.
"At best, the act was stupid, but in the circumstances, not criminal," said Stevenson.
During the two-day trial, court heard that on June 1, 2022, a costume assistant alerted the production's head of security after noticing an armed man in an apartment building pointing what looked to be a real assault rifle from a second-storey apartment window.
The weapon turned out to be an airsoft gun.
About 300 cast and crew members — including stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey — were brought to a safe location for about 90 minutes until RCMP arrived and cleared the threat.
The incident cost the production more than $50,000 in wages, according to prosecutor Alyx Nanji.
Explosion scene affected
Wadden, then 18, testified he was simply using the scope on the firearm to get a better look at the action on the set, below his second-floor apartment.
The incident affected a critical scene from the first episode of The Last of Us, where a police car and pickup truck explode after a crash.
The show's executive producer testified the crew was able to get only one take of the crucial sequence.
In his closing submissions, Nanji argued Wadden ought to have known the consequences of pointing what looked to be an assault rifle.
But defence lawyer Peter Tesi told the judge his client had no intent to disrupt the filming of the show and noted Wadden apologized after he was arrested.
Stevenson said it was fortunate Wadden was arrested peacefully and added the situation should be a "lesson to all persons who own imitation firearms."
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