Star Wars fan arrested for threatening to shoot friend over The Force Awakens spoiler

A man in Montana was arrested on suspicion of threatening to shoot his friend for sharing a spoiler from the newly released Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. Helena resident Arthur Roy reportedly got "angry" with a student he became Facebook friends after the boy revealed a plot line from the new film during an online conversation.

According to Reuters, an online fight followed the spoilers, with 18-year-old Roy allegedly posting a photo of himself in which he appears to be holding a gun. A probable cause affidavit said Roy indicated the weapon was a Colt 1911 with a "hair trigger". The affidavit also revealed the boy was worried Roy would "shoot him."

Roy reportedly said he was "coming to find" the boy, leading to the boy's school to be placed on security "lock down". "The victim was afraid it was a legitimate threat," Melissa Broch, a deputy attorney for Lewis & Clark County, said. "The victim believed that the defendant might come to his school and harm him."

Reuters reported Roy was arrested on 18 December on suspicion of assault with a weapon, which is a felony. Broch said he appeared in an initial hearing in Lewis & Clark County Justice Court on 21 December, when he was held on $10,000 (£6,700) bail.

It was unclear whether he remained in custody. Broch added Roy was likely to be arraigned in a state district court at a later date. If convicted Roy faces up to 20 years in prison, according to KTLA.