Who is Coleman Blevins? Texas man, 28, planning Walmart mass shooting arrested with weapons, radical books
KERRVILLE, TEXAS: Authorities in Texas apprehended a man who was planning a mass shooting at Walmart. At the suspect's home, the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety discovered firearms, ammunition, and "radical ideology paraphernalia".
Local police in Kerrville, Texas, arrested Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, after intercepting a message in which he allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart. On Friday, May 28, Blevins was apprehended on a terroristic threat warrant. He is still imprisoned. The last shooting at Walmart happened in Oklahoma in February last year where at least three people were shot dead.
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The incident comes six days after constitutional carry was legalized in Texas on May 24, thanks to House Bill 1927, making it legal for people to own guns in the state without needing a permit. Earlier in April, a mass shooting took place at a cabinet store in Bryan, which is located about 100 miles northwest of Houston. Earlier in April, Joe Biden condemned gun violence, announcing a series of executive actions and legislative proposals.
Who is Coleman Thomas Blevins?
Coleman Thomas Blevins was arrested on a warrant for a terroristic threat to cause public fear and serious bodily injury on May 28 in the 1000 block of Junction Highway, reported KSAT. Investigators made contact with Blevins during the investigation, according to the news release, and confirmed his affiliation and “networking with extremist ideologies”.
Deputies intercepted a message from Blevins on May 27 saying he was planning to "proceed with a mass shooting", according to the sheriff's office. Blevins made a specific threat against Walmart, according to the sheriff's office, which led to his arrest. Following his arrest, deputies searched Blevins' home and seized firearms, ammunition, electronic evidence, concentrated THC and radical ideology paraphernalia including books, flags and handwritten documents, according to the sheriff's office.
Blevins, who is 28 years old, is currently on active felony probation and is not allowed to possess firearms. He was booked into the Kerr County Jail on a $250,000 bond, according to the sheriff's office, where he remains at this time. The FBI and other federal authorities are expected to file additional charges, according to the sheriff's office.
“This case reminds us that we need to always be vigilant. Many think ‘that can’t happen here’, and it was well on the way to happening,” Sheriff Larry Leitha told The Sun. “Our investigators did outstanding work in this case, and possibly saved many lives. The plot interrupted in this case is unthinkable," Leitha said. "We appreciate the assistance of all our law enforcement partners, including the FBI, DPS, KPD, and Secret Service," he added.