Police say Andreychenko went to the Walmart on Republic Road in Springfield, donned body armor and walked inside with a loaded "tactical rifle" and another gun. No shots were fired during the incident Thursday. Andreychenko was arrested after he was stopped by an armed off-duty firefighter, Springfield police said. No one was injured. Andreychenko left the store after a few minutes and was held at gunpoint by an off-duty firefighter until officers arrived moments later, Lt. Mike Lucas, with the Springfield Police Department, said.
So a man walked into Walmart with a loaded but not chambered rifle, body armor, and a handgun which was unloaded and did nothing except push a cart. I understand why this prompted people to run and pull the fire alarm because of the El Paso shootings, but he was doing this in an open carry state, which allowed him to do so, and he didn’t threaten anyone, although he is now being arrested with making a terrorist threat. I can see the prosecutor’s perspectives, but walking into a store with a gun (as long as you’re not threatening anyone) is completely legal. I do think that he should have been detained, but not arrested. What’s your opinion NSG?