A man was arrested Tuesday at Walmart on Northside Drive East after breaking into a display case, stealing a BB gun, and threatening a mother and child inside the store. He was arrested without any further incident. The suspect, Nathaniel Anthony Jones, was released from the Georgia Department of Corrections on Monday after serving a sentence for Burglary. He was charged with aggravated assault and second degree burglary, and he remains at the Bulloch County Jail with a hold placed on his release.
From Statesboro Police Department:
At approximately 12:47 p.m., Bulloch County 911 received multiple calls reporting a male in possession of what appeared to be a firearm at the Walmart located at 147 Northside Drive East. Officers arrived on the scene within two minutes of the initial call. Walmart staff had successfully isolated the suspect in the Garden Center, allowing officers to take him into custody without further incident. The store was temporarily closed to facilitate the investigation and account for the safety of all staff and customers.
Details of the Investigation
Investigators determined that the suspect entered the store, obtained a tool, and used it to break into a glass display case to access a BB gun. He then approached a female customer and her child in a threatening manner.
Witnesses and staff later confirmed the weapon was a BB gun rather than a functioning firearm. The victims, who had no prior relationship with the suspect, were able to flee unharmed.
Suspect Information
The suspect has been identified as Nathaniel Anthony Jones (40), formerly of Portal, Ga. Jones was released from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections yesterday, February 9, 2026, after serving a sentence for Burglary. Following an interview by detectives, he was transported to the Bulloch County Jail and charged with:
Aggravated Assault
Burglary in the 2nd Degree
Jones remains in custody at the Bulloch County Jail with a hold placed on his release.
Contact Information
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information or video footage of the incident is encouraged to contact Senior Detective Cross at 912-764-9911. Anonymous tips may also besubmitted via the department’s website at https://statesboropd.com/ by clicking the “Submit a Tip” link.
