Texas Man in bulletproof vest threatens to open fire at busy Walmart
Police emphasize the importance of public vigilance in preventing dangerous situations.
A 23-year-old armed man who threatened to "shoot" at a Walmart southeast of Dallas was arrested on Saturday night, according to police.
Gun Barrel City police responded to a call at the Walmart on W Main Street shortly after 6:30 p.m., where a man was reportedly threatening to open fire in the store. Gun Barrel City is located in Henderson County, southeast of Dallas.
What happened?
Upon arrival, officers identified the suspect as John Thomas Martin, from Kerrville. According to the police, Martin was wearing a bulletproof vest under his hoodie and carrying a black Glock 10MM semi-automatic handgun, along with three magazines, an extended magazine, and a total of 63 rounds of 10mm ammunition, as well as earplugs.
Martin has been charged with terroristic threat and illegal possession of a firearm.
John Martin's criminal charges
As John Martin was found to be in possession of a firearm without the proper permit, in addition to the felony charge of making terroristic threats, he is also facing charges for unlawfully carrying a weapon.
John Martin has had a prior arrest in 2022 for terroristic threat. Photo CBS News
According to Henderson County Jail records, Martin was booked on Sunday, Feb. 16, with a $25,000 bond for the unlawful carry charge. However, the bond for the terroristic threat charge has been set at an exceptionally high amount of $1,000,000. It is unclear whether this amount is related to his prior arrest in 2022 for a similar charge—terroristic threat—which carried a bond of $50,000, as reported by WFAA.
The Gun Barrel City Police Department emphasized the importance of adhering to the "see something, say something" principle when in public. They concluded that the actions taken by officers in response to this situation likely prevented a much more dangerous outcome.