Pharmacy customer threatens workers with AR-15 in argument over money, Kentucky cops say

A 65-year-old man got into an argument with pharmacy workers, then vowed to return armed with an AR-15, Kentucky authorities say.

Staff members of a radiology facility’s pharmacy alerted officers in Owensboro about the threat shortly before noon on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Owensboro Police Department said in a news release.

The man, later identified as Thomas Swift, “had threatened to return with an AR-15 rifle to get his money back when leaving the pharmacy,” police said.

The threat came after he became “aggressive over issues refunding his money for a medication,” according to a citation. Swift then traveled to another pharmacy, where he is accused of making similar threatening statements.

He was arrested at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, police said.

“During the investigation, Swift admitted to owning a rifle but denied plans to retrieve it,” according to police. “He also made a statement to officers, saying, ‘That’s why people shoot up places.’”

Court records show Swift was charged with terroristic threatening and menacing, and he was jailed in the Daviess County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

Owensboro is about a 110-mile drive southwest from Louisville.

This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Pharmacy customer threatens workers with AR-15 in argument over money, Kentucky cops say."