Crime
Shots Fired During Rotterdam Walmart Shoplifting Incident, Suspect in Custody
Rotterdam, NY – A shoplifting attempt at the Rotterdam Walmart on Friday afternoon escalated into gunfire, triggering a rapid police response and culminating in the arrest of a suspect.
According to the Rotterdam Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Walmart on Altamont Avenue on December 14 at approximately 2:50 p.m. following reports of gunshots.
Loss Prevention officers at the store confronted a male suspect for alleged shoplifting.
The suspect fled the store, running toward Altamont Avenue while discharging multiple rounds from a handgun.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
Following a swift investigation, authorities identified the suspect as 24-year-old Manief Mullins of Schenectady. Mullins, a New York State parolee, was apprehended without further incident and taken into custody.
Charges Filed
Mullins faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree (Class D Felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)
- Robbery in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony)
He was transported to the Schenectady County Jail, where he is awaiting arraignment.
The Rotterdam Police Department received support from several law enforcement agencies, including:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
- Schenectady Police Department
- Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office
- New York State Police
- New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. The Rotterdam Police Department has urged anyone with information to contact their office as the case unfolds.
This alarming incident highlights the swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement to address violence and ensure public safety.
Crime
Indiana Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Assassinate President Trump in TikTok Videos
A 23-year-old Indiana man has been arrested and charged with making threats against former President Donald Trump after allegedly posting multiple threatening videos on TikTok, federal authorities announced Thursday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI, Douglas Thrams posted a series of videos between Monday—when Trump was inaugurated—and Wednesday, in which he allegedly threatened anti-government violence and called for the assassination of the former president.
In one of the videos cited in the complaint, Thrams reportedly stated, “Every U.S. government building needs to be bombed immediately.” He further escalated his rhetoric by saying, “He [Trump] needs to be assassinated, and this time, don’t… miss,” using explicit language.
Authorities noted that Thrams’ statements were particularly concerning in light of previous assassination attempts targeting Trump, including an incident last year at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president sustained a minor injury to his ear.
Additionally, an FBI affidavit revealed that in another video, Thrams was seen holding a rifle and tapping it, an action investigators interpreted as an implied threat.
Thrams was taken into custody on Thursday and has been charged with “interstate communications with a threat to injure,” a federal offense.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed any further potential threats. Thrams is expected to appear in federal court in the coming days.