Man Threatened Mass Shooting at Walmart if Hantavirus Outbreak Led to Lockdown, Sheriff Says
Investigators say a tip led to charges after the suspect allegedly threatened a Walmart shooting in an online multiplayer game.
- The Marion County Sheriff's Office arrested Aaron Keith Bynum, 20, on charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and harassing communications following an investigation into online threats.
- A tip May 9 to the FBI's National Threats Operations Center alerted authorities to a player threatening a Walmart mass shooting if the United States locked down again due to hantavirus concerns.
- Following submission of in-game recordings by a tipster, a subpoena issued to the game's parent company two days later identified Bynum as the account owner.
- Investigators served a search warrant at Bynum's Oakland, Arkansas, home on Friday, seizing a computer and accessories during the search.
- Bynum was transported to the Marion County Detention Center for booking, with his bond set at $2,500.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Sheriff: Man threatened Walmart mass shooting if hantavirus led to lockdown
An Arkansas man is facing felony charges after authorities say he threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart if the country went into another lockdown because of the hantavirus.
Arkansas man threatened to shoot up Walmart if U.S. locked down over hantavirus
An Arkansas man has been arrested after he allegedly threatened during an online video game to carry out a mass shooting at his local Walmart if another U.S. lockdown were ordered because of hantavirus, according to officials. Aaron Keith Bynum, 20, of Oakland, Arkansas, was arrested Friday on charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and harassing communications, according to Sheriff Gregg Alexander of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. …
Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed that he was arrested on Friday and charged with terrorist threat in the first degree and harassing communications.
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