Police: Man Threatens To 'Kill Everyone' At Mall At Robinson

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa.,None — Police said a 50-year-old man told a Mall at Robinson employee that he had a grenade and was "going to kill everyone" on Sunday.

According to investigators, John Kidney was in an elevator when he made the statements to an employee. Police said the employee told his boss, who then called police.

Investigators said they were initially unable to located Kidney, who uses a wheelchair. Police later learned that a bus driver had taken him to a nearby Applebee's restaurant.

Police said they found Kidney inside the restaurant and he told officers that he was "upset" that he lost both of his legs in an accident last year.

"He was very depressed. He recently lost his legs. He point blank said I didn't mean to say what I said," Robinson police Chief Dale Vietmeir said.

Channel 11 News uncovered that Kidney lost his legs in a Westmoreland County train accident last March.

"I do feel sorry but nobody can make those statements and get away with it. It's not going to happen," Vietmeir said.

According to investigators, officers searched a room at the Red Roof Inn in Robinson where Kidney was staying and found no evidence of explosives or weapons.

Kidney was arrested and charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, threatening to use weapons of mass destruction and terroristic threats.

A mall spokesperson released a statement on Monday saying, "On Sunday, July 31 at approximately 1:30 pm a 50 year-old white male in a wheelchair approached a person in the Mall elevator stating he had a hand grenade. The incident was immediately reported to Mall security and the Robinson Police Department. The area was secured and the suspect was apprehended. We are cooperating with Robinson Police as they determine the appropriate action for the suspect. We are committed to the safety and well being of our patrons, employees and tenants. We have a very comprehensive security program at our shopping center that was utilized to mitigate the issue."

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