On the same day of the atrocious Orlando terror attack, officers arrested a man armed with an assortment of weapons at 5:00 a.m. in Santa Monica.
Suspect 20-year-old James Wesley Howell was planning to attend the L.A. Pride Parade later that day with a friend, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
At the time of his arrest, the Indiana-born suspect’s vehicle was found laden with three assault rifles, ammunition, and large amounts of chemicals that could be used to create a bomb-like device.
Officers found Howell in his car after Santa Monica residents called the police about a suspected prowler interrupting the neighborhood.
In light of the events in Orlando and Howell’s arrest, authorities considered cancelling the L.A. Pride Festival but decided to continue the event with additional security measures.
Howell’s motives for targeting the L.A. Pride Festival are unknown. A conclusive connection to the Orlando shooting has yet to be found.
Originally reported by Gyeongmin Lee
Original article manuscript can be found here
Translated/Adapted by Hankyul Sharon Lee
