Suspects identified in hoax call from Walmart

Published 3:15 pm Friday, September 15, 2017

Suspects have been identified in connection to a hoax that led police in Farmville to believe a man inside Walmart was in possession of a gun, telling police in a telephone call he was having suicidal thoughts.

Police say no charges are pending at this time as the investigation continues.

Staff and customers at Walmart were evacuated shortly before 1:25 p.m. Friday after the call was allegedly placed by the man, who made the call to Farmville police.

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Police searched the building, unable to find the caller.

“The incident at the Walmart in town has been investigated and resolved and the area is now safe and secure,” town officials said in a Friday afternoon statement. “There was a threat called in that ultimately turned out to be false. The suspects have been identified. There is no reason to believe that there is a risk for a further threat.”

According to Farmville Police Chief A.Q. “Andy” Ellington, who was on scene with numerous law enforcement agencies, including Virginia State Police, Longwood University Police, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office, a Walmart employee allegedly attempted to obtain a loan using a website.

When the employee learned the loan — being advocated by the same man who called police Friday — was a potential scam, she cut off communications with him after he asked her to wire him money.

Ellington said the hoax call was allegedly retaliatory in nature.

No one was injured and no shooting took place, according to police. Walmart reopened at about 2 p.m.