Police Investigate Bomb Threat at Pierre Walmart

Authorities describe incident as 'swatting' prank call, no explosive device found

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:48pm

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Police in Pierre, South Dakota are investigating a bomb threat made at the local Walmart on Sunday night. Authorities say the dispatcher who received the call described it as consistent with previous 'swatting' incidents, where prank calls are made to get SWAT teams to respond to a scene where nothing is actually happening. Walmart staff evacuated the store as police searched the premises, but no suspicious items were found.

Why it matters

Swatting incidents have become an increasing problem in recent years, tying up emergency resources and putting people at risk. This case highlights the need for better prevention and response protocols to deal with these types of hoax calls.

The details

Central South Dakota Communications received a call on Sunday night claiming an explosive device had been placed at the Pierre Walmart. Walmart staff evacuated the store as police conducted a thorough search, but no suspicious items were discovered.

  • The call was received on Sunday night.

The players

Central South Dakota Communications

The dispatch center that received the initial bomb threat call.

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What’s next

Authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the bomb threat call in order to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for improved protocols to quickly identify and respond to swatting calls, which can divert critical emergency resources and put public safety at risk.