‘Absolute stupidity’: Wyatt John William Johinke caught at Maccas with eBay gun

An 18-year-old caught with a homemade gun and taser in the North Shore McDonalds car park told police he’d assembled the weapons from parts he’d bought on eBay.

Defence solicitor Richard Scholl said his client had “gone out into the boondocks” on January 22, 2023, with a friend to see if his homemade taser and pistol would work.

An 18-year-old caught with a gun, taser and bullets in his car while he waited in the North Shore McDonalds carpark told police he’d assembled the weapons from parts he’d bought on eBay.

The court heard Wyatt John William Johinke, now 19, had no criminal history, was of good character, gainfully employed and the weapons chargers were simply a matter of “stupidity”.

Defence solicitor Richard Scholl said his client had “gone out into the boondocks” on January 22, 2023, with a friend to see if his homemade taser and pistol would work.

“There was no nefarious purpose, it was basically curiosity,” Mr Scholl said.

“It is just a silly, silly mistake on his behalf and he is extremely remorseful.”

Johinke’s friend was spotted by a member of the public holding the taser, and the police were called. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Later that night around 12.30, the friend was seen holding the taser by a member of the public in Burdell and the police were called.

When officers arrived they found Johinke and his friend sitting in a “small white hatchback” in the McDonalds car park and they were questioned about the contents of the vehicle.

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Police prosecutor Kimberley Rogers-Ford said Johinke told police there was a homemade taser under the passenger seat, a homemade .22 calibre in the passenger door and some ammunition.

“He made admissions that the items were his and that he obtained the items to build the pistol and the taser from eBay, and he downloaded instructions on how to build them,” Ms Rogers-Ford said.

“It is concerning behaviour that someone of a young age with no criminal record is found in possession of a taser, a pistol and ammunition. He’s in a McDonald’s car park at 12.30 in the morning.”

Ms Rogers-Ford admitted it was “nonetheless in Johinke’s benefit” that he was frank and truthful with police.

Johinke appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday, March 11, and pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of weapons and explosives.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann said the incident was “one of the most stupidest” things he’d seen.

“Police would have charged you with possession of a shortened firearm in a public place, had that been the chase, I would’ve had to send you to jail for a minimum of 12 months, that’s how serious this is,” Mr Lehmann said.

“Police chose to exercise their discretion, and you’re pretty fortunate in that regard. But it’s just absolute stupidity to take things from eBay and get some idea of how to build a pistol and a taser. Worse than that, they could’ve blown up and you and your friend could’ve been killed.”

Mr Lehmann fined Johinke $2500 for the three offences, convictions recorded.

Originally published as ‘Absolute stupidity’: Wyatt John William Johinke caught at Maccas with eBay gun