Police: Man with rifle, ammunition at Missouri Walmart accused of making a terrorist threat

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Police in Springfield, Missouri, said they arrested a man who showed up Thursday at a Walmart store carrying a rifle and wearing body armor, terrifying shoppers, who fled from the store.

Police said the 20-year-old suspect had more than 100 rounds of ammunition, news outlets reported. No shots were fired.

An off-duty firefighter held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived, according to news outlets.

Springfield police Lt. Mike Lucas said the man arrived Thursday afternoon wearing body armor and military-style clothing. He walked inside the Walmart carrying a "tactical rifle" and another gun, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Lucas told the paper that police are still working to determine whether the man intended to shoot anyone.



Lucas said an off-duty firefighter held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived about three minutes after receiving an initial call.

"Thankfully, there weren't any shots fired. I think it's great that that off-duty fireman was here," Lucas said.

He's accused of making a terroristic threat, according to the Greene County Sheriff's Office.

"His intent, obviously, was to cause chaos here, and he did that," Lucas said.

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson said in a news release Friday that Missouri protects the right to carry a firearm, but that right does not allow an individual to act in a reckless and criminal manner endangering other citizens.

A probable cause statement released Friday says the man recorded himself as he walked in the store carrying an "AR style rifle" slung across his chest and wearing a ballistic vest. He also had a handgun on his right hip.

The affidavit says he said he was recording himself in case somebody was going to tell him to leave. He said he wanted to know if Walmart honored the Second Amendment.

The incident happened five days after a mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart, left 22 people dead.

