A man has been arrested after faking a bomb scare at a shopping center. His excuse? It was all just a YouTube prank.
Social media is a common place for hopeful pranksters to find their footing, with millions of prank videos available online. However, some pranks have been known to go too far in hopes of eliciting the biggest reaction.
Now, one self-described YouTube prankster is facing potential jail time after making a bomb threat at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie.
37-year-old Joshua Jones was arrested for creating a bomb scare at the mall, going on to tell authorities that he had intended to film patron reactions and post the fiasco to his YouTube channel.
According to Nola.com, Jones entered the mall wearing a ski mask and carrying a black bag. He then placed the bag in the mall’s Food Court, telling two nearby patrons that it contained a bomb.
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The sheriff’s office was notified and deputies arrived at the scene, noting that Jones was filming the interaction on his mobile phone. He was subsequently arrested, admitting that the bomb was fake and that he had planned to post the footage to his YouTube channel.
Sgt. Brandon Veal, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, spoke on the arrest, saying, “Incidents like this are a prime example of how social media platforms can be misused. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office takes all threats against public safety seriously. Individuals found responsible will be held accountable.”
Jones is now facing felony charges, with two counts of making a bomb threat and false communications with the intent of causing an emergency response. If convicted, he may be looking at a 15-year prison sentence.