Store Owner Fakes Robbery to 'Go Viral,' But It Comes Back to Bite Him

[Newsjock]

Source: Gawker

A music store owner in Kingsport, Tenn., had what he thought was the perfect plan to drum up business and deter break-ins at the same time: He'd have someone pretend to rob the store, then heroically pull his gun while the fake perp played dead. All he had to was post the security footage online, and the prank would definitely "go viral."

It worked, sort of. The video is modestly popular, making the local news and pulling 750,000 views on World Star Hip Hop. On the other hand, it also caught the attention of the Kingsport police, who wondered why what appeared to be a robbery attempt was never reported.

When officers first interviewed him, Kingsport police told WCYB, Tennessee Sounds owner Victor Jenkins told them there had actually been a robber. ... But once they discovered he had lied, police considered charging Jenkins with false reporting (a spokesperson says it's not likely they'll do so because he wasn't deliberating trying to cause harm.)

... The backfired publicity attempt was cooked up by one of his employees, online marketing manager Alex Johnson. It's not clear whether Johnson still works for the store, but as of last week, he was attempting to parlay the stunt into an internet marketing venture called Viral Veediuh.

Read more: http://antiviral.gawker.com/store-owner-fakes-robbery-to-go-viral-but-it-comes-bac-1683760828

[ChisolmTrailDem]

1. Charge for "false reporting"??? WTF is that shit??? This was no more than free speech just

as it is for any other video/movie producer!

Again, WTF???

[LanternWaste]

6. He initially told law enforcement he had been robbed. You rationalize his lie as free speech?

He initially told law enforcement he had been robbed. You rationalize his lie as free speech?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

10. I guess I missed that part. I guess I missed that part. nt

[shenmue]

2. Veediuh?

I'm not sure marketing is his real talent.

[valerief]

9. Bwahahaha! Agreed.

[dilby]

3. I am confused, they want to charge for false reporting on something he never reported?

That makes no sense wtf ever.

[Newsjock]

4. He originally told police it was a real robbery

I added a sentence from the linked story to clarify that. Thanks.

[PeaceNikki]

5. I think it's in the 1st sentence of 3rd paragraph of OP:

"When officers first interviewed him, Kingsport police told WCYB, Tennessee Sounds owner Victor Jenkins told them there had actually been a robber..."

[ChosenUnWisely]

7. The lesson to learn is NEVER, EVER Speak to Police without a Lawyer

[whistler162]

8. Nah.. more like

if you are really that dumb remember down not across.

[Ykcutnek]

12. Or do something that makes them think a crime went unreported,

just to make some stupid-ass point about the 2A...

Then lie to them about it.

Hope his ass gets thrown in jail for a few months.

[Ykcutnek]

11. Good to hear a person who took it up on himself to make an NRA commercial

got what was coming to him.

Here's to hoping he has to sit in a cage for a few months.