Shoppers at a busy Walmart Supercenter on East Hillsborough Avenue got a lot more drama than discounts today when police say a woman tried to start a fire inside the store, forcing a full evacuation and temporary closure.
According to preliminary details from Tampa police, the woman allegedly tried to light three pieces of cardboard inside the Walmart at 1720 E. Hillsborough Ave for reasons investigators have not yet disclosed. Smoke was reported inside the building, but the store itself did not catch fire. Employees quickly cleared out customers and staff as a precaution while officers detained the woman and launched an active investigation, as reported by Tampa Bay 28.
Store location and status
The incident happened at the Walmart Supercenter at 1720 E. Hillsborough Ave, which the retailer lists as store #5964, according to Walmart. The company listing confirms the store’s address but does not mention the incident or indicate the store’s current operating status.
Similar incidents in the area
While full evacuations over smoke or suspicious activity are not everyday events, this is not the first time local Walmarts have drawn a heavy law enforcement response. In 2020, deputies said a woman was arrested after allegedly trying to build an explosive device inside a Tampa Walmart on Fletcher Avenue, according to the Tampa Bay Times…