Suspect Accused of Utilizing Nintendo ‘Duck Hunt’ Gun to Rob Convenience Store
According to York County deputies, a man from South Carolina has been taken into custody for reportedly robbing a convenience store while brandishing a Nintendo light gun. The suspect, who is 25 years old, allegedly used the gun accessory, which was primarily used in the 1980s to play games like Duck Hunt, Hogan’s Alley, and Gumshoe, to steal $300 in cash. He reportedly disguised himself with a mask, wig, and hoodie sweatshirt.
According to authorities, the accused brandished a replica firearm at a store clerk and demanded cash from the register. The suspect was apprehended in a Dollar General parking lot nearby, with the fake gun concealed in his trousers. The original 1984 accessory is well-known for its bright orange and gray color scheme, but officials claim that the suspect painted it black to make it appear more realistic. The York County Sheriff’s Department shared a photo of the modified gaming accessory on Twitter.
Man robs gas station with Nintendo ‘Duck Hunt’ pistol: sheriff https://t.co/W9zPl0yxuK pic.twitter.com/nGHELXwr39
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) May 31, 2023
The original gun accessory called the Zapper comes with the NES and uses an internal optical sensor to convert trigger presses into on-screen action. Its primary use was Duck Hunt, although it only worked with a few titles during the console’s lifetime.
Using a fake gun to commit a crime is no joke and has been a serious problem for decades. A 1990 congressional investigation found that fake guns were used in more than 15 percent of robberies. It should be noted that in most of the country, using a fake gun to commit a crime carries similar penalties as using a real firearm, as the threat of danger to victims is very real. After all, these toy or imitation guns look almost identical to the real thing. To that end, New York State recently passed a law banning toy guns unless they are clearly fake, such as painted in bright colors.
