The photo that went viral on social media showing a boy in 'sniper' pose.
WITH mass shootings in other countries hitting the news all too frequently, and snipers figuring prominently in mass entertainment from The Day of the Jackal to Jack Reacher, the sight of someone leaning out a highrise window wielding a rifle is certain to cause alarm.
A photo went viral on social media recently showing an individual aiming what appears to be a rifle from the window of a condominium unit.
It is said that the incident occurred in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and involved a teenager.
Did this really happen?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Police in the city said a 15-year-old boy was arrested after the photograph went viral on WhatsApp. However, the "weapon" turned out to be a fake.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said they were alerted by users who were alarmed by the suspect’s act.
A team from city police headquarters detained the youngster at the condominium at 5.36pm on Saturday (March 2), he added, and found imitation weapons, one resembling an AK-47 assault rifle.
“The suspect admitted (pointing the fake gun out of a window) at 9am the same day,” he said when contacted on Monday (March 4).
Items seized from the shop said to be selling imitation weapons and accessories.
"The suspect also told police he bought the imitation firearms for RM158 and RM54 from a shop in the city."
He said police then raided the shop, located in a mall, and seized imitation weapons.
"We detained another 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old woman who worked at the shop," he added.
The detainees are being investigated under Section 36 of the Firearms Act 1960 for possession, sale and purchase of imitation weapons, ACP Mohd Zaidi said.
