**Toy Gun Criminal: Man Arrested for Robbing Store with Nintendo’s “Duck Hunt” Gun**
In a bizarre incident in South Carolina, a man attempted to rob a convenience store using a toy Nintendo gun from the classic video game “Duck Hunt.” Authorities arrested the suspect soon after, highlighting the dangerous potential for toy weapons to be mistaken for deadly firearms.
David Joseph Dalesandro was arrested by the York County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly using a spray-painted Nintendo peripheral during a robbery at a Kwik Stop convenience store in Sharon, South Carolina. The plastic gun, originally intended for use with the 1980s video game “Duck Hunt,” had been altered to appear more like a real weapon.
The suspect, donning a mask, wig, and hoodie, reportedly entered the store around 5:45 p.m. on May 30, 2023. Brandishing the fake gun tucked in his waistband, Dalesandro demanded cash from the store clerk, making off with $300 before being apprehended by deputies in a nearby Dollar General parking lot.
This isn’t the first time a toy gun has been used to commit a crime in South Carolina. In 2014, a 20-year-old man escaped with $500 after robbing a Family Dollar store with a similar fake weapon. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle but abandoned it and attempted to escape on foot. A deputy eventually caught and arrested him for possession of a weapon during a violent crime and armed robbery.
South Carolina law prohibits possession of an air gun at any park or facility but has no other specific regulations on non-powder or toy guns. The use of such weapons in criminal activity is a growing concern, not only for the safety of innocent citizens but also for law enforcement officers who must make split-second decisions based on perceived threats.
**The use of toy guns in criminal activities demonstrates the need for stronger regulations and awareness of the dangers they pose. This latest incident serves as a reminder that even a seemingly harmless object like a video game accessory can become a weapon in the wrong hands.**
