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Bomb Threat Prompts Evacuation of Rockwall Kroger Store

Monday, June 7 -- Flashing lights from police and fire vehicles at the Kroger Signature store on Ridge Road, alerted drivers that it was not a good time to stop in for groceries. Police units were positioned at parking lot and store entry areas, while a fire truck and several fire units were positioned in the outer lot. Store employees gathered outside in the near vacant parking lot, seeking shade in a few treed areas.

A Kroger employee stated a phone call came in at approximately 12:35 pm. The caller said there was a bomb in the store. Upon receiving the threatening call management made an announcement and asked shoppers to come to the front of the store. Shopping carts of groceries were left at the check-out as management had customers and employees evacuate the building.

Rockwall Police arrived to investigate the situation and performed a sweep of the facility. Fire units stood by during the hour-long investigation. A few off-duty fire volunteers were also at the scene with their gear laid out, prepared for an emergency situation.

At 1:38 p.m. management personnel and police emerged from the store with the thumbs up for employees to return. Police are investigating the source of the phone call. It's reported there were three phone calls, and that caller ID showed a phone number. A Kroger security manager stated they doubt the caller would use his own phone, but police will be looking into the source. It was the opinion of the security manager that the caller was possibly a disgruntled employee. He stated there had been a few incidents over the weekend that could have lead up to today's bomb threat.

By 2:00 p.m. fire units were leaving the scene, and store employees were left to the task of restocking groceries from carts abandoned during the evacuation.