WEST MONROE-West Monroe Police Department responded to a suspicious package outside of the West Monroe Walmart.
“Due to recent national events the building was evacuated, and the Monroe Bomb Disposal Unit was notified,” a WMPD spokesperson said.
At 9:40 p.m., police detonated the package, which was not confirmed to be a bomb or not.
Police weren’t satisfied with the blast so they detonated the package a second time.
“A pop went off,” said Tyler Johnston, a junior at West Monroe High School. “It sounded like a fire cracker.”
Johnston and his friends were just some of many people who stood in the parking lot of Five Guys to watch the events unfold.
Streets leading to Walmart were shut off, causing many people who were staying in motels to be stranded in business parking lots.
Many of the travelers expressed frustration and dismay, but most were understanding of the situation.
West Monroe Police will notify media and the public as soon as more information becomes available.
