On May 8, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with the El Paso Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed federal search warrants for a series of threatening communications over the Internet in Horizon City, Texas, and Chaparral, New Mexico.

At approximately 8 p.m. on May 7, 2020, agents of the El Paso Field Office received a tip from a concerned citizen. The tip identified a photograph of a weapon, posted on a social media application, with the sum of the text stating “…#watchoutwalmartimcoming #droplikeflys....”

The owner of the account was identified as 29-year old Horizon City male, Alex R. Barron. FBI agents and ATF executed a federal search warrant and later arrested Barron at approximately 8:30 p.m. on May 8, 2020. It is anticipated that Barron will have his initial appearance in El Paso before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Monday, May 11, 2020.

“This incident should serve as a reminder that the El Paso FBI has zero tolerance for anyone who threatens to do harm to others. Anyone who makes a social media post threatening to be a potential active shooter should expect to be identified and prosecuted,” stated Special Agent in Charge Luis M. Quesada. “The El Paso FBI, Albuquerque FBI, El Paso Police Department, ATF, and the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas worked together to rapidly investigate this threat so we could keep our community safe.”

If there is a reason to believe the safety of others is at risk, we ask the public to immediately reach out to their local police department by calling 911 or contact the FBI at 915-832-5000. Please do not use the FBI Twitter account to submit tips as this is used primarily for informational purposes only. Once law enforcement is notified, don’t share or forward the post as it could create panic. As always, members of the public can always submit a tip to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Remember—Think before you post.