JSO: Jacksonville Walmart investigation cleared, evacuated out of 'abundance of caution'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Walmart on Phillips Highway had a heavy police presence and had to be evacuated Thursday afternoon.

This comes just days after the mass shooting inside another Walmart in El Paso, Texas.

The incident left the store closed for hours.

Many potential shoppers like Julia Weber said it's incidents like this that leave her on edge.

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“Unfortunately that is our new norm. Incredible polarization, incredible violence and kind of a lack of concern for our fellow human beings,” Weber said.

Thursday afternoon, JSO surrounded the Walmart on Phillips Highway. The store evacuated its customers and employees. Police said an unhappy customer said something that made others uncomfortable and prompted a massive response.

“Welcome to the new America,” Weber said.

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Although violence seems to be the new normal, she said that won’t stop them from living life. She’s  just thankful the situation wasn’t worse.

“It’s still not going to prevent me from doing the things I need to do to enjoy and things to accomplish in my life. It’s disruption, but as long as people are safe I’m all right with that disruption,” Weber said.

Cox Media Group