A 20-year-old man from Arkansas, Aaron Keith Bynum, was arrested after threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a local Walmart if the U.S. went into a hantavirus lockdown. Authorities say the threat was made during an online gaming session, recorded by another player, and reported via a tip to the FBI\u2019s National Threats Operations Center. <\/p>\n

The FBI shared the facts with the Marion County Sheriff\u2019s Office,which obtained a search warrant and probable-cause paperwork. During the arrest, police seized his computer and related equipment. Bynum was booked on charges including terroristic threatening<\/a> and harassing communications, with a $2,500 bond. <\/p>\n

The incident is described as tied to public fear related to a recent hantavirus outbreak<\/a> reported on a cruise ship in the South atlantic.The article emphasizes that health officials<\/a> do not expect the situation to lead to \u201cCOVID-like\u201d lockdowns, noting experts say this virus is different and that there\u2019s no indication such measures are warranted. <\/p>\n