Man Arrested for Allegedly Placing Chemical Weapon in Walmart

Police have located and arrested the man who attempted to detonate a chemical weapon at an Oxnard Walmart.

Oxnard police say Martin Reyes of Oxnard left a man-made chemical weapon inside the Walmart store on Saviers Road on June 18. The Walmart was evacuated and shut down as a hazardous-materials team spent six hours safely removing the device.

Investigators say an extensive month ong investigation and physical evidence collected at the scene helped investigators identify Reyes as the suspect. Oxnard police investigators interviewed Reyes at the Ventura County jail, where he was in custody for unrelated charges. During the interview, police say Reyes confessed that he manufactured and placed the chemical weapon inside the Walmart store. Reyes was aware that the device was capable of creating a gas, which has been classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a chemical that is “Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Considerations.” Reyes told investigators that he conducted most of his research on the internet.

Reyes is charged with unlawful possession and manufacturing of a chemical weapon of mass destruction.