A 16-year-old reportedly cosplaying as Resident Evil’s HUNK has been arrested for carrying a fake firearm. This isn’t the first time a video game fan has been arrested for taking their fandom public. There have been people taken into custody for dressing as a Stormtrooper or Fallout character in power armor. Usually, it is the fake weapons on display that cause the ruckus, and that seems to be the case with this Resident Evil cosplayer. Though he’s the most recent gamer to clash with the law over his attire, he likely won’t be the last.
The character HUNK debuted in Resident Evil 2 in 1998 and has appeared in nine games in total. To many people, he is just as iconic as Leon S. Kennedy, Albert Wesker, or Claire Redfield. A member of the Alpha Team tasked with stealing the G Virus from Dr. William Birkin, HUNK’s story is shrouded in mystery. Even his real name is unknown, and his face is usually hidden behind a gas mask with trademark red lenses and a military helmet. Though his pixelated visage has occasionally been seen, in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis for example, the mystery behind the man is largely what makes him popular with fans.
Resident Evil Cosplayer Arrested for Carrying a Firearm
On August 30, a 16-year-old cosplayer was arrested near Stamford Bridge stadium in the UK “on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm,” according to the police. It’s believed he was attending the London Anime & Gaming convention nearby and was reportedly dressed up as Resident Evil’s HUNK and carrying a fake MP5, the character’s usual weapon. Initially, some media outlets reported the incident as the arrest of an attempted mass shooter, which Metropolitan Police quickly denied. As of 2:30 PM GMT time, he was still in custody, though it’s unknown if the cosplayer will be charged with any crime.
There is currently an image circulating online and being associated with the arrested cosplayer. However, that particular photo was originally shared on Reddit by CaptorRaptorr in 2022. At this time, it’s unclear just how elaborate or realistic the 16-year-old cosplayer’s outfit actually was. The police statement says only that he was “displaying a weapon and walking towards a crowded area.” The arrest occurred around the time of a soccer match between Chelsea and Fulham in the nearby stadium, so there would have been bystanders in the area, who might have been alarmed at the sight of a man wielding what looked like a real rifle. While it is standard practice to put an orange tip on fake firearms to designate them as a prop gun, it’s unknown whether the 16-year-old’s weapon had this distinguishing element.
The Image Circulating Online Is Not of the Arrested Cosplayer
Despite this, many people are puzzled why the cosplayer was arrested when, according to the police statement, it was known to be a fake weapon. UK law forbids possession of fake firearms in any public place. Exceptions to this rule include historical re-enactments and film or theater productions, but proper licensing is then required. It’s also illegal for anybody under the age of 18 to purchase an imitation firearm, and the cosplayer was only 16. The UK’s “Ask the Police” website also emphasizes that all calls about firearms, even fake ones, are by default treated as if they were real.
