Man Accused Of Making Chemical Weapon Inside Walmart Makes First Court Appearance

VENTURA (CBSLA.com) — A man who stands accused of assembling a chemical weapon inside a Walmart store made his first court appearance Thursday.

A public defender assigned to Martin Reyes' case asked that his arraignment be delayed. He has been charged with manufacturing and possessing a weapon of mass destruction.

It was before noon on June 18 when authorities say the 32-year-old Reyes walked into a Walmart store in Oxnard dressed in black.

Once inside the store, police said the man assembled all of the ingredients from store shelves with instructions he found on the internet.

Police also accused Reyes of attempting to release the dangerous gas in the cards and stationery aisle.

"That's crazy. I wouldn't imagine anyone doing anything like that," said David Nava, an Oxnard resident.

Someone spotted the device and called 911. Everyone inside the store was evacuated.

Police said Reyes was interviewed by officers this week while he was already in custody on an unrelated charge. Police say he admitted to making the device.

"I just thank God I wasn't here," said Linda Alvarado, who was born and raised in Oxnard and regularly shops at the Walmart.

"I'm really glad that I wasn't here at that time because I would've been scared and you know it's just weird that something like that could happen here in Oxnard," she said.

No one was hurt.

Reyes is due back in court on Aug. 3. He was being held in lieu of $510,000 bail.