NO threat at Walmart at Gateway & Yarbrough in east El Paso, police say

Police said there was NO threat despite a hefty police response to the area around the Walmart store at Gateway and Yarbrough in east El Paso on Friday afternoon.

Authorities received unrelated calls around the same time of a shoplifter at the store and a man with a gun at a nearby restaurant. Officers responded in force out of an abundance of caution.

Officers located the man, but said it turned out he didn’t have a gun.

“The subject at the nearby Lins restaurant was not in possession of any weapons,” a police spokesman said. “He was temporarily detained and released.”

Report of Police at Wal-Mart, 10727 Gateway West (by Yarbrough), is regarding a shoplifting call. The El Paso Police Department wants to assure the public there is no need for alarm. Unrelated call at nearby restaurant involved subject checked and sent on his way

— EL PASO POLICE DEPT (@EPPOLICE) August 9, 2019