Three people from Ajax are facing criminal charges following a staged disturbance at the Landmark Cinemas in Whitby on March 17, 2026. The incident, which caused panic among moviegoers, was reportedly orchestrated to film reactions for social media content.
The Durham Regional Police Service announced on April 7, 2026, that they had charged two 23-year-old men and one 17-year-old youth with causing a disturbance and mischief. Among those charged is Fique Wamiq Ayub, a social media creator with over 1.27 million subscribers on YouTube.
Investigators stated that the group created a false firearm scare inside the theatre at approximately 11:20 p.m. In a video later uploaded online, which gained over 600,000 views before being removed, the individuals were heard yelling that someone in the theatre had a gun. This caused cinema patrons to rush toward the exits in fear.
All three accused were released on an undertaking following the investigation. Constable McGregor of the Central West Division is leading the case. Police are asking anyone who may have additional cell phone, dash cam, or surveillance footage of the incident to contact the police at 1-888-579-1520, extension 2060, or reach out to Durham Crime Stoppers.
