A group of college filmmakers were shooting a robbery scene inside of Classic Coffee in Glendora, California when a few guest stars decided to make a surprise appearance.
Eight police officers were called to the suburban coffee shop when they received a call from a woman who reportedly saw an armed and masked gunman inside of the shop.
Without the slightest idea that the students were filming a movie, the eight officers descended upon the filmmakers yelling “Drop the gun! Drop it! Drop it!”
While one of the masked actors immediately dropped his fake assault rifle, one held onto his replica gun, forcing an officer to knock the handgun from the actor’s hand, drawing a peaceful conclusion to the situation that police Captain Tim Staab claimed “was just milliseconds away from a tragedy.”
After the actor was placed in handcuffs, an officer is heard on an audiotape asking the filmmakers what was going on. When one of the students explained to the officers a film was being made, an officer asked, “You are shooting a short film? In a store with a man with a gun?”
Police had stated that there were no indications of a film being shot, such as no one standing outside to warn customers, nor was there a permit.
Normal filming protocol calls for weapons carried by actors to have an orange marking to indicate that the weapon is a replica. But the marking on the weapons used by the students had been covered by black pen, presumably to make the guns look more realistic.
The group of students were allowed to keep their replica weapon and will not be facing any charges. They were given a lecture by officers about the dangers they had caused and were sent on their way.
