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Police found Florida man who asked Walmart clerk for 'anything that would kill 200 people'

Say he's not a threat
Posted at 12:52 PM, Aug 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-08 16:02:42-04

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Police in Port St. Lucie have identified a man they say asked about purchasing a weapon that could kill a large number of people at a local Walmart and determined that he is not a threat.

According to the police department, a man between 50-60 years old with gray-black hair and a goatee approached a sales clerk Wednesday evening in the sporting goods department and asked the clerk if you could sell him "anything that would kill 200 people."

The police identified the man as Philip Michael Attey II.

The clerk told Attey that his comment wasn't funny.

"I know," the man said. He then repeated the question to the clerk.

"During his interview with detectives, Philip Attey II informed police that he is an anti-gun activist and that he believes that his statements made to the Walmart clerk in front of a customer only helps his cause which is for Walmart to stop selling firearms," the St. Lucie Police said in a statement.

"At this time, it doesn’t appear that Mr. Attey II is an immediate threat. This is an ongoing investigation," the statement concluded.

This story was originally published by WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida.