Aaron Keith Bynum, 20, was arrested in Marion County, Arkansas, after allegedly threatening to open fire in his local Walmart if a hantavirus outbreak prompted lockdown measures similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Details of the Threat
Bynum reportedly made the threat while gaming online, telling other players he would target the store. Another player reported the comment to the FBI’s National Threats Operations Center on May 9, providing a username and in-game recording.
Arrest and Charges
Authorities identified Bynum as the account holder and arrested him without incident on May 13. He is being held on a $2,500 bond and faces charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and harassing communications.
Hantavirus Context
The threat coincided with a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has caused the deaths of three people and prompted the CDC to monitor 41 others for potential infection. Officials noted that hantavirus is rodent-borne and not easily spread between humans.
Investigation
Investigators from the FBI Fayetteville Field Office and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants and collected evidence to support Bynum’s arrest.
