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.

The investigation began on May 9, when the FBI’s National Threats Operations Center received an electronic tip from someone who reported hearing the threat during an online multiplayer game. The tip included the player’s username and an in-game recording of the statements, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officials said the person threatened a mass shooting at his local Walmart if the country were locked down again because of hantavirus.

A subpoena was issued on May 11 to the parent company of the game, identifying Bynum as the owner of the account, the sheriff’s office said. The FBI’s Fayetteville field office later passed the information to investigators in Marion County.

Marion County investigators obtained a search warrant for Bynum’s residence and a probable cause affidavit for his arrest. The warrant was served Friday, and investigators seized a computer and computer accessories while processing the scene.

Bynum was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Marion County Detention Center. His bond was set at $2,500.