Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Neighborhood Wal-Mart on Highway 42 in Galvez in reference to a male who made a verbal threat, while checking out several items while with an acquaintance, shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday morning.

In conversation with an acquaintance, the suspect said, “I should to go out to the car and get a gun and come back and shoot the store up.” The employee overheard the threat and reported the incident and then contacted the sheriff’s office.

The two men left the store on foot in an unknown direction of travel, prior to deputies arrival. The store was placed on lockdown per company policy, and the customers were quickly released upon deputies arrival. The store was on lockdown for approximately one hour and reopened.

“While we take these threats serious, nevertheless, it was a onetime utterance,” said Sheriff Jeff Wiley. “Therefore the sheriff’s office and Wal-Mart management agreed that it was safe to reopen the store very quickly.”

Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office at 235- 621-4636 or by texting 847411 to an anonymous tip line from any cellular device, or contact Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867), text CS225 plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or submit an anonymous tip at www.crimestoppersbr.com. You will remain completely anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.