This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On August 9, 2019, a heavily armed man entered a Walmart in Missouri, causing widespread panic among shoppers and employees. Dmitriy N. Andreychenko, 20, of Springfield, Mo., was carrying a tactical rifle slung across his chest, a handgun, and 100 rounds of ammunition.
According to the police, Mr. Andreychenko told them he was testing his Second Amendment rights when he recorded himself entering the store. He was wearing a bulletproof vest, as seen in pictures taken by a witness.
Mr. Andreychenko's actions were not well-received by his wife and sister, who had warned him that his plan would cause alarm. His wife, Angelice Andreychenko, told him it was 'not a smart idea,' and his sister, Anastasia Andreychenko, declined to film him entering the store.
Despite the warnings, Mr. Andreychenko proceeded with his plan, which he described as a 'social experiment' to test how his Second Amendment right would be respected in a public area. He was taken into custody without incident after another shopper held him at gunpoint.
Mr. Andreychenko is being held at the Greene County Jail with bail set at $10,000. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison.
Walmart has condemned Mr. Andreychenko's actions, stating that they were 'reckless' and 'designed to scare people.' The company is working with the authorities to prevent similar situations in the future.
