Florida man asked whether Walmart clerk could sell him something to kill 200 people

PORT ST. LUCIE — Police are asking for help in identifying a man who reportedly asked a Walmart clerk Wednesday whether the clerk could “sell me anything (or a gun) that would kill 200 people,” the agency stated.

The incident happened about 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at the Walmart in the 10800 block of South U.S. 1.

Sgt. Robert Vega, police spokesman, said a person was having a conversation with a clerk in the sporting goods department. That conversation was interrupted by a man, described as between 50 and 60 years old with grayish black hair and a goatee.

“Can you sell me anything (or a gun) that would kill 200 people?” the man is quoted as saying.

The clerk said that wasn’t funny, and the man reportedly said, “I know,” and once again asked whether the clerk “could sell him anything that would kill 200 people.”

The man made a purchase elsewhere in the store and left.

The man was described as white,  5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 200 to 220 pounds. He wore a black, short-sleeved shirt and light-colored shorts. He had a black watch on his left wrist.

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Police are asking for help in identifying the man.

Those with information are asked to call police at 772-871-5001 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS.

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The incident follows another one earlier this week in which a 34-year-old man was accused of threatening to bring a gun to school to get faster enrollment service for his child, an affidavit said.

Ryan Adam Winterbottom, of the 5100 block of Northwest Aljo Circle in Port St. Lucie, was arrested shortly after noon Tuesday on a threat to bomb charge by St. Lucie County sheriff’s investigators.

Sheriff’s officials about 10 a.m. Tuesday went to Samuel S. Gaines Academy K-8 in the 2200 block of South Jenkins Road in Fort Pierce after a “school threat.”

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A school security officer reported he was told Winterbottom called and inquired about the wait time to enroll his child. School in St. Lucie County starts Aug. 12.

The officer was told he “became irate on the phone and started making threats about going home and grabbing a gun and returning to the school,” the affidavit said.

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Staff writer Corey Arwood contributed to this report.