Arkansas Man Charged Over Online Threat To Shoot Up Local Walmart
Aaron Bynum, 20, of Oakland, Arkansas, was arrested on Friday, May 15, 2026, and charged after allegedly threatening online to shoot up a local Walmart if the United States entered a hantavirus-related lockdown.[1]
The Marion County Sheriff's Office arrested Bynum, executed a search warrant at his home and seized his computer, then booked him on first-degree terroristic threatening and harassing communications with bond set at $2,500.[1]
On May 9, an in-game recording captured an online gamer allegedly saying he would carry out a mass shooting at the Walmart if the United States entered a hantavirus lockdown.[1]
The FBI National Threat Operations Center got a tip with the suspect's gamer tag and the recording and then subpoenaed the game company to identify the user.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On May 9, 2026, an online gamer allegedly threatened a mass shooting at a local Walmart if the United States went into a hantavirus-related lockdown.
- The FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip with the suspect’s gamer tag and an in-game recording, then subpoenaed the game company to identify the user.
- On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year-old Aaron Bynum of Oakland, Arkansas, executed a search warrant at his home, seized his computer, and booked him on first-degree terroristic threatening and harassing communications with bond set at $2,500.
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