TOP STORY OF THE DAY: A 'Gangster Video" causes Walmart shoppers to run

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A potential threat at a Vigo County Walmart on State Road 46 caused shoppers to run for their lives Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Terre Haute Police Department, officers responded to a report of two adult males wearing Balaclava-style masks, with one male having a handgun visible in his waistband. A balaclava, also known as a balaclava helmet or ski mask, is a form of cloth headgear designed to expose only part of the face, usually the eyes and mouth.

The appearance of the two unidentified men led to the building being evacuated in fear, and authorities were notified.

Officers responded, and both subjects were detained at gunpoint near the jewelry counter.

The handgun was determined to be a pellet gun.

Indiana House Bill 1296, which Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law in March, took effect July 1. The law allows most people older than 18 to carry a handgun in public without a permit. The firearm was determined to be a pellet gun.

The men informed officers they were making a “gangster video.”

When the Vigo Counter Prosecutor’s Office was notified about the details of the incident, it was determined that no crime was committed or Indiana laws violated.

Apparently, another person filmed the duo as they walked into the store, never talked to anyone and did not brandish the weapons. The incident was allegedly filmed for a YouTube channel where they showcase various pranks.

A report was filed, and the men were released.

Mayor Duke Bennett said, after reviewing the circumstances, no state laws were violated.

“These folks committed no crime,” Bennett said, in a telephone interview with The Brazil Times about the prosecutor’s decision in the matter.

As the details were made available to the public, people on social media were outraged to think that someone playing around with a gun - real or not real - was not charged with something.

“In this crazy world, to do something like this, with all the gun violence, this country is facing ... it’s just crazy,” was one poster’s rant on social media.

Local officials were hesitant to talk about “what ifs” without further details on which to base a legal opinion.

At 3 p.m., the Terre Haute Police Department again took to Facebook to post about the situation:

“The purpose of our earlier post regarding the events at Walmart was to inform the public of what had occurred and to dispel false social media rumors indicating that an active shooter event had occurred. While both the department and prosecutor’s office believe the actions of these two individuals was irresponsible and even repulsive, we also understand that in these specific circumstances neither individual took actions (verbal threat, pointing of firearm, etc) that would meet the threshold for violating current Indiana law. The inclusion of the prosecutor’s determination was meant to demonstrate that every step has been taken to hold accountable this conduct under current law, and not that we believe their assessment of the law in these specific circumstances was flawed. We both understand and share in the frustration over this incident and recognize the fear and potential for serious injury it has created.”