Bomb threats lead to evacuation of 8 Walmarts, 2 in Kansas City area

Posted: Jul 27, 2012 8:23 PM EDT
Updated: Jul 29, 2012 1:53 PM EDT

By Laura McCallister, Multimedia Producer
By DeAnn Smith, Digital Content Manager
By Micah Bray, Assignment Editor

KCTV 5KCTV 5


MISSOURI (KCTV) -
At least eight Walmarts across Missouri have been evacuated Friday evening after bomb threats.

Two of the stores are in the Kansas City area.

Two and a half hours after the threats were called in, police declared the scenes as safe.

THREE MORE OCCURRED IN EASTERN KANSAS EARLY SUNDAY. CLICK HERE TO READ THAT STORY.

The Gladstone, MO, Walmart at 72nd and North Prospect Avenue was evacuated after police got a call of a bomb threat about 6:30 p.m.

About the same time, the Raytown, MO, Walmart on Missouri Highway 350 near Raytown Road was evacuated for the same reason. Police said someone called in the bomb threat.

Kansas City, MO, police as well as Olathe police volunteered their bomb and arson K-9 unit to help at the Kansas City area locations. Officers found nothing suspicious and let everyone back inside the big box store about 8:30 p.m.

Media outlets in southern Missouri report that two Walmarts in Christian County have been evacuated due to bomb threats. Those stores are in Nixa and Ozark. Other media outlets are reporting the Walmart in Jefferson City was evacuated as well as the Walmart in St. Peters, near St. Louis. Just before 10 p.m., police confirmed that the Walmart in Piedmont also received a threat.

At this time, it is unknown if police are investigating the threats as being connected.

In a statement, Walmart officials said they are working with authorities and apologized for the inconvenience to customers. Company officials said they were grateful no one was hurt.

Melissa Munkers posted on KCTV5's Facebook page that she was inside the Raytown Walmart when it was evacuated.

"When cops are telling you to get out of the building, you grab your two small children and GO!" she wrote.

A Facebook user commented on KCTV5's page that police escorted families out through the garden center at the Gladstone Walmart.

Click here to read OzarksFirst coverage of the evacuations in Christian County.

Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.


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