{"id":1939383,"date":"2026-05-16T19:33:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1939383"},"modified":"2026-05-16T19:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:33:24","slug":"arkansas-man-arrested-after-allegedly-threatening-mass-shooting-if-hantavirus-shuts-down-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1939383","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Mass Shooting if Hantavirus Shuts Down U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/02\/16by9\/2026\/05\/16\/02ae19ca97dd4c1ebf76469b1f9face7_xl.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"article article--permalink \">\n<header class=\"article__header\">\n<h1 class=\"article__header--headline-title\">Arkansas Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Mass Shooting if Hantavirus Shuts Down U.S.<\/h1>\n<h2 class=\"article__header--headline-fragments\"><span class=\"article__header--hf1 text-uppercase h3\">Arkansas Man<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf2 text-uppercase h1\">Allegedly Said He&#8217;d Shoot Up Walmart If Hantavirus Shuts Us Down!!!<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"social-media-container\" role=\"region\">\n<ul class=\"social social--sm\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\"><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tmz.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"js-track-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"google-preferred-btn\" src=\"https:\/\/static.tmz.com\/tmz-web\/img\/article\/google-preferred-source.png\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/pages\/about\/\">TMZ Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"date-wrapper\">\n                                                                        Published <time class=\"published-datetime\" datetime=\"2026-05-16T12:33:24-07:00\"><br \/>\n                              May 16, 2026<br \/>\n                            12:33 PM PDT<\/time><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article__blocks clearfix\">\n<section id=\"cb-c7c3f69345a219278800ec191d2480a5\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  canvas-block-is-first \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260516_02ae19ca97dd4c1ebf76469b1f9face7\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/02\/4by3\/2026\/05\/16\/02ae19ca97dd4c1ebf76469b1f9face7_md.png\" alt=\"main arkansas walmart shooting hantavirus getty Marion County Sheriff's Office\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty \/ Marion County Sheriff&#8217;s Office Composite<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-f9861c3e51b1c98f7df5663e981da829\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>The potential of a bigger hantavirus outbreak is apparently starting to drive people mad.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-1134acfb8b0f08ea621bf7671dea86cd\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Case in point &#8230; an Arkansas man allegedly threatened to shoot up a Walmart if the hantavirus forces the United States to shut down.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-723277ec5ffd0acd761f3b0b2ba6e960\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260516_c87717522aad44a8872a108638551309\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/c8\/4by3\/2026\/05\/16\/c87717522aad44a8872a108638551309_md.png\" alt=\"Aaron Keith Bynum mug shot Marion County Sheriff's Office tmz wm\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Marion County Sheriff&#8217;s Office<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-1927e252689c62d7350aedcf0afb3282\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>According to cops, <strong>Aaron Keith Bynum<\/strong> was arrested Friday by Marion County Sheriff deputies and charged with making terroristic threats &#8212; a felony &#8212; and harassing communications, a misdemeanor.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-f459adbd6e7a9f1dd44fe5477e157691\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Bynum&#8217;s capture\u00a0comes after he allegedly made the threat during an online game he was playing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip about it, police say.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-b2b4f72838b3a44a2deb4c5856904cf5\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Cops say the tipster gave the FBI Bynum&#8217;s alleged online username, which the feds used to subpoena the company that produces the game.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-bf2950febfb0a587f2c4401e6aa4804c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260513_4a393e64f3f843df9d2c314d71117859\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/4a\/4by3\/2026\/05\/13\/4a393e64f3f843df9d2c314d71117859_md.png\" alt=\"sub hantavirus getty\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-fd77aed47b9b133f27bdae7f8d51eb57\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>The company confirmed Bynum is the account holder, cops claim, and then passed the info along to the sheriff&#8217;s office whose deputies executed a probable cause search warrant.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-57d93da2713c7937d30b61a9cfeb72f0\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>During the search, cops say they seized Bynum&#8217;s computer and placed him under arrest.\u00a0Bynum is currently being held on $2,500 bail after getting booked into the Marion County Detention Center.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-0449a766d56417782f86f529c6a1c1bd\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  canvas-block-is-last \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>In April, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/04\/cruise-ship-passengers-dead-after-hantavirus-outbreak\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>three people died<\/strong><\/a> from the hantavirus during an outbreak on a cruise ship, MV Hondius, which was traveling through the Atlantic Ocean. Officials say 11 other cruise passengers fell ill and were hospitalized with 8 of them confirmed cases of hantavirus.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<ul class=\"social social--permalink\">\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--facebook js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/16\/arkansas-man-arrested-threatening-mass-shooting-hantavirus\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"facebook-footer\",\"pos\":1}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--x js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/16\/arkansas-man-arrested-threatening-mass-shooting-hantavirus\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"twitter-footer\",\"pos\":2}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"related-articles\">\n<header class=\"card-section-header related-articles__card-section-header\">\n<h3 class=\"card-section-title related-articles__card-section-title\">\n              Related articles<br \/>\n            <\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"row related-articles__row\">\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/14\/cruise-influencers-not-worried-by-hantavirus-outbreak\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"related-article\",\"pos\":1}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/fc\/16by9\/2026\/05\/13\/fcefadc6c32b4b49870d7131492089c1_xs.png\" alt=\"051326_rich_jasmine_ramnarine_primary\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        Cruise Influencers Say Hantavirus Is Not the End of the World, They&#8217;ll Keep Traveling<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/13\/french-woman-artificial-lung-hantavirus-case\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"related-article\",\"pos\":2}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/13\/16by9\/2026\/05\/13\/1317b8d3cebb4d5e87bcfe9aca0fdf88_xs.jpg\" alt=\"main-MV-Hondius-getty-1\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        French Woman Hanging on by a Thread After Contracting Hantavirus on Cruise<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/05\/11\/donald-trump-responds-to-question-about-hantavirus\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:fedc456b-6294-4a72-9ab0-642e64bb93c7\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"related-article\",\"pos\":3}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/46\/16by9\/2026\/05\/11\/46c0d39bf7e0477bb235ab892d1af2c2_xs.png\" alt=\"051126 donald trump hantavirus primary\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        President Trump Says &#8216;I Hope It&#8217;s Fine&#8217; 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src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/02\/16by9\/2026\/05\/16\/02ae19ca97dd4c1ebf76469b1f9face7_xl.png&#8221;] Arkansas Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Mass Shooting if Hantavirus Shuts Down U.S. Arkansas ManAllegedly Said He&#8217;d Shoot Up Walmart If Hantavirus Shuts Us Down!!! By TMZ Staff Published May 16, 2026 12:33 PM PDT Getty \/ Marion County Sheriff&#8217;s Office Composite The potential of a bigger hantavirus outbreak is apparently starting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,77],"class_list":["post-1939383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tmz-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1939383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939383\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1939383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1939383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1939383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}