A 20-year-old Arkansas man has been arrested after allegedly making threats to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart store, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect allegedly told other players on a gaming platform that he would open fire inside his nearest local Walmart "if the country were locked down again due to the Hantavirus," authorities said.

The threat was reported to law enforcement, leading to the man's arrest. The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest in connection with the alleged threats.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about public safety threats made on online gaming platforms, where users can communicate with others during gameplay. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly monitored such platforms for potential threats following various incidents of violence.

Hantavirus is a rare but serious respiratory disease that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents. While the virus has caused isolated outbreaks in the past, there is currently no widespread hantavirus outbreak that would warrant lockdown measures similar to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.