Customers at a Tennessee Sam’s Club were in a panic on Saturday when they saw a man pull out a .40 caliber Glock on a couple who were both wearing “Make America Great Again” hats.
Bowling Green police arrested James M. Phillips, 57, of Cottontown, Tenn., after he fit the description provided by several witnesses who had called police about the incident, the New York Post reported.
Phillips was charged with a felony count of first-degree wanton endangerment.
A man who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat says a man took out a gun at a Sam’s Club in Kentucky and told him, “It’s a good day for you to die.” https://t.co/3D0JxjYvVT
— WOWK 13 News (@WOWK13News) February 18, 2019
Witnesses told police that the suspect was wearing a gray sweatshirt and a hat that identified himself as a veteran, and also armed with a handgun, The Bowling Green Daily News reported.
According to the arrest report, “Callers stated the suspect was standing next to a gold Honda in a handicapped parking space telling the female, ‘it’s a good day to die b—-.’”
Phillips admitted that when he walked past the couple and saw they were wearing “MAGA” hats, he flipped them off.
Allegedly, one of the victims, Terry Pierce, took offense to Phillip’s gesture and confronted him and that’s when Phillips pulled out his gun inside of the Sam’s Club.
The arrest record further stated, “Phillips had a Glock .40 caliber, with a round chambered, in his rear right pocket and two additional magazines in his left cargo pocket. Phillips has a current concealed carry permit in Tennessee.”
Phillips said that Pierce assaulted him, but Pierce denied those allegations and they were not supported on video surveillance.
Phillips remains in the Warren County Regional Jail under a $10,000 cash bond.
He will be arraigned on Monday, Feb. 25. in Warren District Court.
Meanwhile, in Kansas, another MAGA hat incident unfolded yesterday, Kansas City News reported.
A mother and her 14-year-old son entered Vans Off the Wall in Overland Park’s Oak Park Mall when the son was asked to remove his MAGA hat.
The boy didn’t respond, and the employee swore at him.
The boy’s mother attempted to speak with the store manager about the incident, but was told by an employee to go about her business.
The mother then asked for the contact information to their corporate office.
“I tried to have a very respectful, very respectful conversation with him, and it was disgusting how it was handled, to 14-year-old children that did nothing to him,” the mother said on a video she posted to social media.
Employee of @VANS_66 in @OakParkMall told a 14 year old child “F*** You” for wearing a #MAGA hat.
Rt Make them famous
h/t @ENRGpic.twitter.com/8R4CQbeZwD
— Red Nation Rising (@RedNationRising) February 17, 2019
The employee who cursed at the boy has since been fired.
Laura Doherty, spokeswomen for Vans Global Brand Communications, said, “Our primary focus is to provide the best customer service experience. The actions and comments from one employee in our Oak Park location are in contrast with our company’s values and belief in personal expression.”
