Man Arrested for Mass Shooting Threats Concerning Tampa Premium Outlet Mall in Wesley Chapel

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL - A recent development has left the community on high alert, as a Dade City resident faces federal criminal charges following threats and outlandish claims about the Tampa Premium Outlet Mall. Stewart Walter Bachmann has been arrested and charged by United States Government for unlicensed possession of an illegally modified automatic rifle.

On August 5, 2023, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office responded to a perplexing call from Bachmann, who claimed to be held hostage and mentioned an "invisible person" in his car's backseat. Further alarming authorities, Bachmann warned of a catastrophe resembling "9/11" slated to happen at the Tampa Premium Outlet Mall.

Deputies managed to locate Bachmann near the mall. During questioning, he further alleged that a mass shooting was being planned by the CIA, though it was ambiguous whether he considered himself a part of this supposed plot.

A subsequent search of Bachmann’s home, conducted by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, led to the discovery of nunerous firearms. One of these many weapons, an AR-15 type rifle, had been altered to operate as a fully automatic firearm. No registration records for this weapon were found in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), resulting in the federal charge against Bachmann.

If Bachmann is found guilty, he could be facing up to a decade in federal prison. The case is currently under investigation by the ATF and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

All details have been sourced from an official statement by the United States Department of Justice. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

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