A reported grenade threat triggered a Walmart evacuation and standoff in Caldwell County on Friday, ending with one man in custody.
According to the Hudson Police Department, 911 received a call around 1 p.m. from 24-year-old Alexander Little, who claimed someone in the Walmart, off Hickory Blvd just south of Lenoir, had a live grenade.
When officers arrived, they located Little inside and say he pulled out what appeared to be the device. Police immediately evacuated the store and set up a perimeter.
During the standoff, officers say Little made threatening gestures and statements suggesting he intended to detonate it. Authorities later determined the grenade was inert.
Officers used less-lethal force to take him into custody without injuries.
Little now faces charges including possession of a weapon of mass destruction, false bomb report, and going armed to the terror of the public. He is being held without bond.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Granite Falls Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The incident briefly shut down the store and drew a large emergency response before ending safely.
