COMMACK, N.Y. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man was charged Friday with helping stage a fight that spurred panic among shoppers at a Long Island Walmart, a stunt that police say was for the sake of making a video to post on social media.
Electronic court records show Marcquis Graham of Philadelphia was released without bail after being arraigned on riot, reckless endangerment and other misdemeanor charges in the incident a year ago. He hasn’t entered a plea.
The phone rang unanswered Friday night at the Legal Aid Society office that is representing him, and no phone number could immediately be found for his home. An email was sent to a possible address for him.
The Suffolk County Police Department says the 24-year-old was arrested Thursday in Ronkonkoma.
Police say five men were involved in putting on the fake fight at the store in Commack on Dec. 2, 2018.
Shoppers told news outlets at the time that they heard shouting and what sounded like gunshots and someone yelling about a gun. The remarks sent people scrambling, and some called 911 to report a possible gunman.
“People were absolutely terrified,” police Chief of Department Stuart Cameron told Newsday on Friday.
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