The man in his 20s dressed in body armor and fatigues was reportedly walking around with a rifle and recording video. Though there was no shooting, it caused a panic days after two mass shootings.
The Walmart manager pulled a fire alarm and told customers to evacuate immediately. People ran screaming from the store. "There's a shooter!"
The armed man was detained at gunpoint by an off-duty firefighter.
"I am still shaking," Tammy Lea told KYTV. "It is just terrifying."
"He is lucky he's alive still considering the situation he created," a police official said.
Shocking bad judgment. Is he a copycat white terrorist?
These guys with guns are causing more terror responses in USA than the ISIS cells. Panic amongst the civilians. They must be pleased that White America is doing their job for them!
Interesting that no correlation has been made yet.
The intimation is enough to cause fear. No need for them to do anything now. The people have done it themselves.
Well, ain’t that jus’ Yankee Doodle Dandy, That ‘Ole Man River, He just keep rollin’ along!
Good luck with the future!
He exercised his legal right to open carry. Just like the good old days of slavery and westward expansion, when carrying firearms was necessary to murder indigenous peoples and runaway slaves. Our lax gun laws are the continuation of our nation’s legacy of white supremacy.
Once upon a time, I would have vigorously agreed. Now that the police and military are the ones that want to have that monopoly, I worry very much.
Neither. He was and idiot doing a publicity stunt. When confronted outside he smiled and put his gun down and arms up.
Unfortunately, Missouri is an open carry state so he will probably not be charged with anything.
@Bobsuruncle updated news. It appears they will be charging him with something: [ozarksfirst.com]
Are you calling me an "anti-gun wingnut with my head in the sand"? My middle finger is twitching.
The off-duty fireman didn't stop anyone. He apparently didn't act until the manager had enough time to be notified and go pull the fire alarm. All he did was raise the tension in an already tense situation by adding another weapon.
As has been stated many times, they're very lucky not to have been shot.
Additional update:
Apparently it's illegal in Missouri to use a gun in a threatening manner. Will the off-duty fireman be charged? (for being a fool maybe?)
@LiterateHiker
Nah... I'd never call you anything disparaging.
Again, one never knows the real story unless you witness the event with your own eyes. Plenty of interpretations to feed both our mythologies.
I live in the Springfield area so it was all over the news. The "good guy with a gun" didn't stop anyone. He approached the man outside Walmart, and essentially told him to put his hands up. The gunman smiled (I saw the video) and complied. This idiot (gunman) went in the front door and walked out the back door. I seriously doubt the gun even had any bullets in it.
As I mentioned, Missouri is an open carry state. Being in riot gear carrying as assault weapon isn't against the law. Unless he verbally threatened someone, or pointed the gun at someone, he can't be charged with anything.
@kiramea but he should be able to be charged. He knew damn well he'd cause a panic. If it's illegal to shout fire in a theater, this to should be illegal. To me, they're both stupid.
A shockingly stupid and selfish person. Like Bob says, I think he would've started shooting immediately if that was his intent. He's very lucky he wasn't shot. His little attention getting skit also traumatized a bunch of people. Hopefully he will be locked up and his guns taken away.
I'm glad to not know whether he is terrorist. Most of the ways I can think of to find out are unpleasant bordering on horrific.
He is apparently stupid enough to qualify for some serious consequences and I hope they come.
Addition: I was reading a news story of this that included this note:
Missouri allows open carry of firearms, with a critical exception: It’s illegal to display a firearm in an “angry or threatening manner.” Does walking into a store in a chain that’s recently experienced a mass shooting carrying the equipment for a mass shooting count as threatening?
@RichCC
Boy! I'd sure say so!!!