Police: Louisiana man wields machete in Walmart, tries to kidnap children

KENNER, La. — A 33-year-old man was arrested Friday when he tried to kidnap two children from a Walmart in Louisiana using a machete, according to the Kenner Police Department.

Billy Yoe Budier-Herrera went to the Walmart in Kenner, La., at 2 p.m. Friday and started threatening a mother and her child, according to officers. Budier-Herrera told the unidentified mother that if she didn't follow his directions, she would die, according to police.

The mother tried to get away from Budier-Herrera, but he stopped her path and put his hand on the handle of a machete. Budier-Herrera said that if she didn't listen, he would kill her son, according to police.

When the mother asked for help from story employees, Budier-Herrera tried to grab the child out of the grocery cart and run. The mother grabbed onto her child and got him away from Budier-Herrera. The victims ran behind a counter and were assisted by employees, according to police.

Budier-Herrera ran from the area, swinging his 10-inch machete at employees who tried to stop him. He then saw another child in a shopping cart and tried to kidnap that child as well, but couldn't because the child was strapped in.

Budier-Herrera was tackled by an employee and an off-duty Kenner Police officer and was arrested. On Friday, Budier-Herrera was in custody and no bail had been set, according to jail records.