Ex-con accused of plotting ‘carnage’ by blowing up Shelton Walmart

An ex-con who was just released from prison now faces new charges for trying to blow up a Shelton Walmart and kill as many people as possible.

Federal prosecutors claim Larry Gillette, 53, told an undercover police officer he hoped for “carnage” in the bombing of the Walmart and two nearby gas stations to cover up a series of bank robberies. Court documents show Gillette, who was arrested Monday, tried to acquire a bomb and four pistols from an undercover officer during a sting operation.

Gillette allegedly told other prisoners of his plan to rob Shelton-area banks by bombing other businesses as a diversion while he was still incarcerated at the Washington Corrections Center, the Shelton prison where he was serving time for identity theft.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle says Gillette met twice in April with the undercover officer, who recorded his plotting on audio and video. The undercover officer provided the suspect with four Glock pistols that had been disabled, along with a fake car bomb.

“He wanted ‘carnage,'” the agent said in court documents, and had been planning the bombing for nine years.

Gillette also allegedly hoped to shoot several people at each bank before even making demands, and planned to shoot bank workers who didn’t comply or move quickly enough.

Gillette is charged with solicitation to commit a violent crime and unlawful gun possession by a felon. He faces up to 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Tacoma Tuesday afternoon.