GOODLAND, Kan. — Law enforcement agencies are investigating a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a Walmart in Sherman County on Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., an unidentified individual contacted the Walmart located at 2160 Commerce Road in Goodland. According to a media release, the caller claimed that multiple pipe bombs had been placed inside the building and threatened to detonate them.
Rapid Emergency Response
A massive multi-agency response followed the threat. Officers and emergency personnel from several departments arrived on the scene to secure the area, including:
- Goodland Police Department
- Sherman County Sheriff’s Office
- Kansas Highway Patrol
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
- Goodland Rural Fire Department
- Sherman County EMS
First responders successfully evacuated all customers and staff from the building. As a safety precaution, local authorities temporarily closed all roads surrounding the retail center to manage traffic and ensure public safety.
Store Cleared by K9 Units
A Kansas Highway Patrol K9 unit specifically trained in explosives detection conducted a sweep of the premises. After a thorough search, officials confirmed that no suspicious devices were found.
Part of a Larger Trend?
The Goodland Police Department noted that they are aware of similar threats recently reported at Walmart locations in other states. It remains unclear if this incident is directly connected to those reports, but the investigation into the identity of the caller is ongoing.
The store and surrounding roads were reopened once the “all clear” was given. Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the threat to contact local law enforcement.
