A 22-year-old man, David Andrew Aguilar, was arrested on July 29th of 2024 after he elaborated on his first theft as a bomb threat. What began with a petit theft --which Aguilar claimed he carried out purposefully to summon Law Enforcement inside the shelves of a Walmart -- resulted in a 90-minute closure and evacuation of the store.
At approximately a quarter past noon, Deputy Sheriff Bakhshi made contact with Aguilar after being dispatched and informed that Aguilar had stolen a salad bowl, deli sandwich, and BlueBox Blue Razz (alcoholic beverage) off the shelves of the Walmart, later moving to the deodorant aisle to consume the products. Once Deputy Bakhshi and Aguilar established discourse, Aguilar began to spit out ungrounded statements, telling the officers, "I took some food and drink so I could get you guys to come here."
He explained that "the Cartel" was waiting outside for him and that he would be murdered if he did not complete his mission. The young man added that he had a coin in his pocket with the ability to shred his body when activated, threatening, "There is a bomb in the store. My instructions are to launch it. I won't tell you where it is unless you give me a meth pipe with at least seven grams of meth." Deputy Bakhshi placed the young man in handcuffs once he began making suicidal statements such as, "I just want to die," and, "Please give me a bullet in the head right now."
Previously, Aguilar had informed the Walmart staff that there was a bomb in the store, additionally threatening that the bomb would explode and kill all of the employees if his demands were not met. Aguilar later admitted to the deputy that he took alcohol "to relax" and that "the Cartel" were the ones who placed the bomb in the store and provided him with instructions to launch it. He claimed that he did not know where the bomb was when pressed but agreed that he would give this information for the meth. Aguilar is now being held without bond at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County.
