Horizon man arrested for Walmart threat faces firearms charges after FBI says it found arsenal of guns

HORIZON CITY, Texas — A 29-year-old Horizon City man accused of making online threats that included a photo of a weapon and a reference to El Paso Walmart stores is facing a pair of federal firearms charges after authorities allegedly found an arsenal of weapons belonging to him.

Alex R. Barron, 29, of Horizon City, had an initial court hearing by phone with a federal magistrate Monday afternoon.

He was formally charged at that hearing with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and one count of possession of a machine gun by a felon, according to the FBI.

Agents, according to court documents obtained by ABC-7, seized seven guns - including a machine gun - belonging to Barron, some of which had been ordered by mail and shipped to this home.

The court documents also indicated that Barron had served a six-month sentence in a Texas prison in 2011 for felony drug possession. (You view the court documents at the bottom of this article.)

Barron remained held without bond Monday afternoon in the El Paso County jail pending another court hearing set for later this week.

Barron was arrested Friday night by the FBI after it received a tip about a social media post with a picture of a weapon and some of the text reading ”#watchoutwalmartimcoming #droplikeflys.”

The FBI said it identified Barron as the owner of that social media account and then obtained search and arrest warrants.

Federal officials said they take such threats especially serious following the Aug. 3, 2019 attack when a shooter opened fire at the Cielo Vista Walmart, killing 23 people, including "Memo" Garcia who died last month from his injuries. The suspect in that shooting is awaiting trial.