Leroy Richard Koepfinger Jr.

WEIRTON — A Weirton man has been charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly making a false bomb threat at a local business on Friday.

Leroy Richard Koepfinger Jr., 58, of 104 Lisa Court, was arrested by Weirton Police who responded to an emergency call from the Weirton Walmart, which was evacuated as a precaution.

According to reports from law enforcement, a staff member told police Koepfinger approached the customer service desk wearing a pair of headphones, removed a small speaker from his bag and placed it on the counter.

Asked if he was returning the speaker, Koepfinger reportedly replied that he had made it into a bomb and was going to detonate it unless a television news crew was called so he could speak to them about working conditions and mental health.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Koepfinger, he has made similar threats at other businesses.

His case is pending in Brooke County Magistrate Court. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 28 before Magistrate Robert Catlett. He currently is being held in the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail on a $20,000 bond.