‘Copycat’ attack thwarted at Fla. Walmart, suspect ‘intrigued’ by mass shootings: cops

New York Post – by Chris Perez

A Florida man was arrested Sunday for threatening to “shoot up” his local Walmart — later telling cops he was “intrigued” by the El Paso and Dayton massacres.

Wayne Lee Padgett, 31, is accused of targeting a Walmart in Gibsonton, just 10 miles south of Tampa. 

He allegedly called the store and told an employee he was on his way — and armed.

“He was intrigued with the shootings over the last couple of days,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister told reporters at a press conference. “This type of behavior seeks to instill fear in people and it will not be tolerated.”

Chronister said cops acted quickly to the “active shooter” threat and were able to bust Padgett, who lived near the Walmart — where his mom was employed. It’s unclear if he was actually carrying a weapon.

“After the events over the last week, we all fear for our safety to begin with, so to have an individual who for whatever reason wants to be a copycat, or wants to [instill] fear in people for whatever that motive may be is disturbing,” Chronister said. “If you make any type of threat, know that your sheriff’s office is going to take it extremely seriously, expend whatever resources in a timely fashion to find that threat.”

The sheriff praised his deputies for thwarting the threat, which earned Padgett felony charges for false report of using a firearm in a violent manner.

“They arrived within moments and immediately gained control of the chaotic scene, evacuating large numbers of patrons while simultaneously and without hesitation, searching for the shooter,” he tweeted on Sunday night.

The incident came less than 24 hours after Connor Betts’ deadly shooting rampage in Dayton, Ohio, which left nine people dead and dozens more wounded. A similar massacre unfolded Saturday at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where 20 people were fatally shot and 26 others injured.

https://nypost.com/2019/08/04/copycat-attack-thwarted-at-fla-walmart-suspect-intrigued-by-el-paso-dayton-shootings-cops/

2 thoughts on “‘Copycat’ attack thwarted at Fla. Walmart, suspect ‘intrigued’ by mass shootings: cops

  1. “It’s unclear if he was actually carrying a weapon.”

    Or a brain.

    You don’t BROADCAST your intent.

    And if he WASN’T carrying a weapon when they busted him, then it was all bullsh#t to begin with anyway.

  2. “‘Copycat’ attack thwarted at Fla. Walmart, suspect ‘intrigued’ by mass shootings: cops”
    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    “It’s unclear if he was actually carrying a weapon.””
    WEASEL WEDNESDAY LAUGH;
    HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!!!!!!!
    I LIVE IN A NATION OF JEWISH IDIOTS……..

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