A cop in Australia has pleaded guilty to “carrying a firearm with disregard” after he threatened to shoot another police officer during a screening of Top Gun: Maverick last year.
According to reports, 30-year-old cop Dominic Gaynor pulled out his gun and pointed it “in the vicinity” of the fellow police officer who said that he would reveal spoilers from Tom Cruise’s 2022 blockbuster sequel.
Court documents show that Royston told Gaynor, “I’ll spoil it for you.” To which the latter responded, “Don’t spoil the movie” and “I’ll shoot you.”
“He pointed his firearm at the vicinity of the complainant and held it stationary for five seconds,” court documents read. “The offender’s finger was on the receiver and not the trigger. The offender was laughing throughout this incident.”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Company, Royston admitted in court on November 9 that the incident caused him to fall into a depressive state. Police officers frequently “share jokes and tease each other,” he claimed, but this incident was different and left him feeling “overwhelmed with shock and fear.”
“I have completely lost the trust I had and my admiration for the NSW Police Force,” he said. “When I see a police officer now, I feel compelled to watch them and check their hand is not on their firearm.”
Gaynor’s lawyer, Chris Micali, said that his client made an awful mistake and that a conviction would “definitely see him removed from the police force.” Macali added, “This is going to cost him dearly.” The police officer was given a community correction order for two years, 100 hours of community service, and a recorded conviction.
“This is a case where the skylarking and tomfoolery in an employment context has gone awry,” the attorney told the court.
Top Gun: Maverick is the follow-up to the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. It debuted in theaters in May 2022 and quickly rose to prominence at the box office, grossing $1.4 billion in ticket sales worldwide. The film is currently the 11th highest-grossing film in box office history. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards this year, including best picture.
