Knightdale, NC – Authorities are now investigating the bomb threats made at two different Walmart stores in the area on Sunday morning. Police agencies are working to find out if the two threats were connected.
KNIGHTDALE
A Walmart from Knightdale was evacuated by a bomb threat around 8:30 p.m. By noon, it had reopened.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a bomb threat at Walmart at 7106 Knightdale Blvd. A man called the store to tell him he was placing devices around the building, threatening to detonate them unless they gave him a certain amount of money.
At 10:30 a.m., police said there did not appear to be a threat in the store. Everyone had evacuated safely.
After three hours looking for clues inside the building, the “all clear” sign was given at 11:45 p.m. Dogs and drones sniffing bombs were used.
“The content of these lawsuits leads us to believe that there are other issues at stake,” said Lawrence Capps, Knightdale police chief.
“We are grateful for the outcome of the incident,” Capps said. “Although this threat was unfounded, I am satisfied with the way our agents and our partners in the area came together to solve it. The combined response was both complex and convenient. It is a testament to the labor relations that exist in our county and evidence of a unified commitment to public safety.
A woman on a shopping trip told WRAL that emergency personnel rushed to the Knightdale store and told her she needed to leave.
“It’s like, oh God, what did I get into?” said Kris Minton. “It was a terrifying experience.”
There were no injuries. Knightdale and EMS firefighters also responded.
DURHAM
In addition, Durham police are investigating a bomb threat at Walmart at 1525 Glenn School Rd. in Durham. The threat was called around 8:10 a.m., and the caller noted he was in the men’s bathroom in the store with a dozen pipe bombs to be fired.
Durham police said the caller used the same phone number and Internet voice protocol (usually called VOIP) as the caller at the Knightdale store. The number was routed over the Internet to mask the location.
The store reopened after being closed for several hours.
No explosive devices were found. No injuries were reported.
Officers blocked the entrances to the store, which is located between Interstate 85 and E. Geer St.
Authorities began removing the tape from the crime scene at Durham Walmart around 10:50 p.m. Ambulances and fire trucks left the store.
