James Howell, the suspect police arrested for having a stash of explosives, guns, and ammunition before heading to the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, was arrested less than a year ago in Indiana for pointing a gun at someone in a heated dispute.
TMZ reports that the 20-year-old got into a spat with his neighbor last October. In a state of fury, he pulled out his gun. Howell was arrested and charged with pointing a firearm at another, as well as intimidation.
Howell agreed to a plea deal, and the firearm charge was dropped; he also pleaded guilty to intimidation. The possible would-be gay pride gunman is said to be on one-year probation for that incident.
It wasn’t elaborated upon what Howell and his neighbor in Indiana were arguing about.
James Howell allegedly intended “to harm” Weho gay pride parade using guns and explosives https://t.co/ZmJCjWzFoB pic.twitter.com/rZiNoPFcaV
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) June 12, 2016
Howell was arrested in Santa Monica early Sunday morning after a homeowner reported to police that he saw a man acting suspicious. Police discovered a cache of arsenal in his car, which included three assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and a five-gallon bucket filled with chemicals needed to make bombs. Howell told police that he’d traveled from Indiana to West Hollywood to attend the pride parade.
Fox News reports that James Wesley Howell is a resident from Jeffersonville, Indiana, and news of his destination to the gay pride parade came just a few hours after at least 50 people were shot and killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Authorities believe the two events are unrelated.
At first, Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks tweeted that Howell told officers he wanted to “do harm” at the gay pride event, but modified her statement to read that Howell said he was only going to the parade, which was roughly seven miles from where he was detained by police.
“It was a misstatement,” Lt. Saul Rodriguez told the Los Angeles Times . “Unfortunately, she was given incorrect information initially, which indicated that that statement was made; however, that statement never was made. He did indicate that he was planning on going to the pride festival but beyond anything as far as motives or his intentions that statement was never made nor did any officer receive that statement.”
Authorities haven’t released any further information as far as a motive. The FBI is currently heading the investigation.
Santa Monica PD statement on James Wesley Howell, arrested in Santa Monica. Had multiple rifles, ammo, explosives. pic.twitter.com/ULPXYIky3J
— Nick Short (@PoliticalShort) June 12, 2016
According to the report, there was no evident hostility towards gays or political activism on Howell’s Facebook page. One post did reveal that he signed a petition to legalize marijuana. A post on June 3 did illustrate his political views being anti-Hillary Clinton and anti-Bernie Sanders.
As for his professional life, the social media site revealed that Howell worked as an auditor for an air filter company.
Furthermore, a friend of Howell’s, Joseph Greeson, 18, said that Howell’s parents in Jeffersonville hadn’t seen him for days. They called Greeson’s parents wondering where he was.
Greeson offered the information that he and Howell are in a car club together, and that Howell had a gun collection.
Interestingly, Greeson said Howell had nothing against gays or lesbians.
The organizers of L.A. Pride released a statement before the parade expressing that the Orlando tragedy only made them more determined to continue with plans.
“Our brave founders made this happen to show the world who we are,” the statement said. “We will be loud. We will be proud, and we will celebrate in honor of all those lost.”
[Photo by David McNew/Getty Images]
