UPDATE Rochester PD Locates Armed & Dangerous Homeless Man Christopher Thomas Surrounded Near Walmart

ROCHESTER, NY. (THECOUNT) — Chief Paul Toussaint reports that the Rochester Police Department has located and established a perimeter around the armed suspect in the woods near Walmart.

(ORIGINAL STORY:) Police are actively looking for Christopher L. Thomas, AGE 27, HOMELESS. The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s with a beard, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds.

Original release:

Chief Paul Toussaint reports that the Rochester Police Department is actively searching for an armed and wanted man near Route 11 and asks that residents avoid the area.

This afternoon, Rochester Police received a report that a man, armed with a rifle, was seen in the rear parking lot of Walmart, 116 Farmington Road, before disappearing into the woods.

The man is known to police and has three warrants for Criminal Threatening, along with four warrants for Theft. He is believed to be in the area behind Walmart and Market Basket, somewhere in the woods along The Ridge development.

Out of an abundance of caution, Walmart, Market Basket and the surrounding businesses have been evacuated. No shots have been fired and no injuries have been reported.

Just before 5 p.m., the Seacoast CERT SWAT team, along with the Stafford County SWAT team, responded to the area to assist Rochester Police with the search. source

Developing.