Mississippi Man Bombs Walmart Store for No Longer Selling the Confederate Flag
Remember when Walmart decided to stop selling the Confederate flag after the symbol saw renewed controversy after the Charleston shooting? Well, it seems that one Mississippi man did not forget, and he did not take the chain’s decision very well.
Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre said that they arrested Marshall Leonard after he was connected to the bombing of a Walmart store early on Sunday morning. Aguirre said Leonard was initially pulled over for running a red light, but that he was soon connected to the bombing incident and taken into police custody.
“A white male got out, lit the package and threw it in the vestibule,” Aguierre said while describing the incident. “There was an employee on break and the suspect told him, ‘You better run.’”
While the employee was unharmed and the poorly-made explosive caused only minor damage, Leonard will appear in court today to face charges for planting and detonating the device. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal detailed how Leonard has a history of defending the flag and bearing Confederate paraphernalia, and police have said that the attack was Leonard lashing out at the flag not being in Walmart stores anymore.
“He’s a strong supporter of keeping that flag flying,” Aguierre said. “This is his way of bringing attention to that”.
You can watch a report on the story in the video above, via WPTV.
[h/t BBC]
[Image via screengrab]
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