GUN BARREL CITY—At approximately 6:33 p.m., Feb. 15 Gun Barrel City (GBC) Police Department responded to the GBC Walmart located at 1200 W Main Street regarding an armed male threatening to “shoot up the store.” 
According to a press release from GBC Police Department, officers located this individual inside the store and identified him as John Thomas Martin, 22, from Kerrville. 
Officers recovered from Martin’s person a Glock 10 mm semi-automatic black handgun, three magazines, one extended magazine, totaling 63 rounds of 10 mm ammunition. Martin also had shooting ear plugs and was found to be wearing a ballistic vest under his hoodie. 
Currently, Martin has been arrested and charged with Terroristic Threat 22.07 (a)(5) a felony in the third degree and Unlawfully Carrying of a Weapon 46.02 (2)(a) a Misdemeanor A, according to judicial records. 
According to a 2022 press release from Kerr County Sheriff’s Department (KCSO), Martin had a warrant for making terroristic threats regarding a local discount store, stemming from an incident that occurred June 10, 2022. At that time, Kerr County Sheriff’s Office began assisting the Kerrville Police Department in attempting to locate Martin. In a joint effort between the KCSO Warrants Division, Special Investigations Unit, Digital Forensic Unit, Texas Rangers and the Kerrville Police Department officers were able to locate Martin who was hiding out in a residence in Henderson County. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) aided in the case by locating the suspect hiding in a residence with his mother, arrested Martin and transported him to the Kerr County Jail. The outcome of this 2022 arrest is unknown. 
The Gun Barrel City Police Department would like to thank the citizens that came forward to report this suspicious behavior to Walmart staff. “See something, say something,” the department urges. These actions and the officer’s response truly prevented a very dangerous outcome. Martin is currently in the Henderson County Jail with bond set at $1,025,000 for the two associated charges. 
“We’re grateful to first responders for acting quickly and we will be working with police through their investigation,” Walmart Global Communications Representative Kelly Hellbusch told The Monitor. 
The Gun Barrel Police Department is currently looking for the individuals that notified store employees along with anyone that may have been witnesses to this offense to contact the Gun Barrel City Police Department at (903) 887-7151 or to email Investigator Ruiz at Aruiz@gunbarrelcity.gov.