Union Walmart Evacuated After 'Unfounded' Shooter Report: Police

UNION TOWNSHIP – A Walmart in Union Townshup was evacuated Thursday after police say they got what turned out to be an "unfounded" threat.

An Essex County man who allegedly caused the Walmart to be evacuated is now in custody and has been criminally charged, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Union Police Director Daniel Zieser jointly announced Thursday.

Joshua K. Phillips, 20, of Newark is charged with third-degree creating a false public alarm, third-degree possession of a weapon, and shoplifting, a disorderly persons offense.

Shortly after 10:45 a.m., Union Police Department patrol units responded to the Walmart located at Springfield Road and U.S. Route 22 East on a report that a man wearing a mask had been seen with a gun in an aisle, according to the preliminary investigation.

The building was evacuated, and a search of the building revealed that a person later identified as Phillips had removed a large black airsoft gun from its packaging and later discarded it elsewhere in the store, according to the UCPO.

Phillips turned himself in at Union Police Department headquarters Thursday evening after becoming aware of significant media coverage of the incident. He was subsequently lodged in Union County Jail pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Superior Court.

Two calls reporting an armed masked man inside the Walmart on Springfield Road came in just before 11 a.m. on Thursday, which led to a lockdown, Union Police said.

Police searched the store and did not find the alleged armed and masked man.

The person who made the first call to police is currently being interviewed by detectives, police said. The second caller was anonymous.