'24 In Review: 3 Cases Of Raging Gamers

1. Video Game Argument Escalates to Gun Threats and Arrest

March

A heated argument in March over an offensive comment made during a video game session turned dangerous Saturday when Nicholay A. Zelenskoi, 30, allegedly brandished a handgun at his wife and assaulted his mother-in-law. Police say the Villages at Rancho El Dorado resident pointed the gun at himself and threatened suicide before the dispute moved to his mother-in-law’s bedroom. When she tried calling the cops, Zelenskoi reportedly smashed her phone against a window, shattering it, and damaged two doors before fleeing. Officers arrested Zelenskoi in a nearby parking lot.

2. Gamer Rage Leads to Back-to-Back Arrests in Maricopa

April

Maricopa police dealt with two cases of video game-fueled outbursts one night in April, both ending in arrests for domestic violence. The first incident involved 18-year-old Carlos J. Brizuela, who allegedly threw a can of refried beans at his sister’s bedroom door during a heated gaming session. Police say he escalated the dispute by threatening to send a “girl gang” to attack her. Brizuela now faces charges including assault and threatening, with up to 18 months in jail. Hours later in Tortosa, 24-year-old Brenden G. Umberger’s gaming frustration turned destructive. Police found doors ripped off hinges, shattered glass, and walls riddled with holes. Umberger admitted to punching walls and causing $3,000 in damage.

3. Gamer Rage Strikes Again as Internet Outage Leads to Arrest

May

When the Wi-Fi went down on a Saturday night in May, Anthony P. Rohde, 23, responded with a fist to the wall—and soon found himself facing domestic violence charges. Maricopa police say Rohde’s gaming session turned destructive at his Homestead home, where his father reported the outburst and provided video evidence of the damage. Rohde admitted to officers that frustration over the lost internet connection led him to punch the wall instead of cooling off.