Man said to be planning hospital attack ‘killed’

KANSAS CITY: A man suspected of planning to attack a Missouri hospital was killed during a shootout with FBI agents, authorities said on Wednesday.

The deadly encounter took place on Tuesday afternoon in suburban Belton, Missouri, outside Kansas City, after agents on a tactical team tried to arrest the man as part of a domestic terrorism investigation.

It was not clear whether the man was killed by FBI agents or died by suicide. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials identified the man as Timothy Wilson, 36.

According to officials, Wilson had expressed racist and anti-government sentiments. He had been under FBI scrutiny since September, and the authorities said that at one point he had considered attacking multiple targets, including a school with a large number of black students, as well as a mosque and a synagogue.

“Wilson considered various targets and ultimately settled on an area hospital in an attempt to harm many people, targeting a facility that is providing critical medical care in today’s environment,” the FBI said.

Last week, Belton’s mayor issued a stay-at-home order for its residents. Authorities said Wilson said he felt compelled to act because of the mayor’s order and intended to use a car bomb to cause mass casualties at the hospital.

The FBI is reviewing the shooting, as is standard anytime agents are involved in shootings.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were eight known cases of the coronavirus in suburban areas of Cass County, which includes Belton. The Belton police have had to issue a statement about false information on social media.

The Belton shootout came as firearm and ammunition sales have soared in recent weeks as the coronavirus scare deepens. A gun industry association is lobbying federal and state governments to categorize firearm manufacturers and dealers as critical infrastructure, complaining that FBI background checks are slowing things down as more people try to purchase weapons.

But officials have been split over whether gun stores and ammunition dealers can remain open alongside pharmacies, gas stations and laundromats, leading to confusion and legal challenges as at least 19 states have issued some form of stay-at-home orders. In Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, gun stores have been deemed essential. In New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, they have not.