The FBI and police in California are trying to figure out why an armed man from in was headed to a gay pride parade in West Hollywood. After agreeing to plead guilty to the lesser charge of intimidation, Howell was sentenced to one year of probation. His Facebook page also included pictures of himself near the vehicle and meme comparing Adolf Hitler to Hillary Clinton.
Advertisement
Howell said he traveled to California to attend the Pride Parade.
The suspect said he was going to the Pride Parade, but police now say he never said he meant to do harm.
The attack is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, ahead of those on the Virginia Tech campus in 2007 and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
Following the Orlando incident, West Hollywood City Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath said in a Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials were stepping up security at the annual event.
“The suspect was reportedly knocking on a resident’s door and window prompting the call to SMPD”, Lt. Saul Rodriguez said.
Jail records show he’s being held on $500,000 bail.
Police arrested 20-year-old James Wesley Howell of IN with three rifles, several high-capacity magazines loaded with ammunition, and chemicals that could be used for improvised explosives IN his possession. The teen stated Howell pointed a rifle at him.
Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks also said there was no known connection between Howell’s arrest and the shooting rampage early Sunday morning at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 50 people were killed and more than 50 others were wounded. There’s no enmity toward gays or notable political activism.
“He’s out there with explosives and all these guns, but who carries all these guns in a auto and goes to a gay pride event?” the teen added. One post says hes signing a petition to legalize marijuana.The pages most recent public post, from June 3, shows a photo comparing an Adolf Hitler quote to one from Hillary Clinton.
His Facebook page reportedly featured posts blaming the USA government for the September 11 terror attacks, questioning whether the Paris terror attacks were a hoax and likening Hillary Clinton to Adolf Hitler.
Several witnesses corroborated the victim’s story and Howell was arrested for intimidation with a weapon and pointing a firearm. An anti-Clinton, pro-Bernie Sanders photo was posted in February. Hayden says officers hadn’t yet conducted a surprise home visit to check that Howell was following a judge’s order not to have weapons during his one-year probation.
The site said Howell worked as an auditor for a company that makes air filters.
The teenager said he always wondered why Howell kept guns, but assumed that he liked guns the way some people like cars. When police arrived they were met by Hambrick, who said he had gone to the address to recover some of his possessions.
Specifically, terrorists are increasingly favoring using guns instead of explosives, experts say, and choosing “soft targets” – confined areas crowded with civilians like concert halls, clubs, shopping malls or sports events – instead of “hard targets” like military or government facilities.
Carl Oliver of Los Angeles attends the parade every year.
Advertisement
Associated Press writers Tom Davies contributed from Indianapolis, Claire Galofaro contributed from Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles.
