http://bnonews.com/news/index.php/news/4556Man bound for LA Gay Pride festival arrested with chemicals, weaponsPUBLISHED SUN, JUNE 12, 2016 - 1:28PM EDT
A man has been arrested in Santa Monica after assault rifles and chemicals capable of creating an explosive device were found in his vehicle, police say. He allegedly told officer that he had intended to "harm" a Gay Pride event in West Hollywood. (more)
Officers responded at 4:59 a.m. PT on Sunday when Santa Monica Police received a call about a person who was knocking on the door and window of a residence. When police arrived at the scene, they found James Wesley Howell inside a vehicle with license plates from Indiana.
"Further investigation led to the recovery of three assault rifles, high capacity magazines and ammunition," police spokesman Lt. Saul Rodriguez said. "Additionally, officers discovered a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device. All items were returned from Howell's vehicle."
The bomb squad of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene to render the vehicle safe, Lt. Rodriguez added.
Police said Howell had told officers he had wanted to "harm" the Gay Pride event in West Hollywood, but other details about his possible intentions have not been disclosed. A police bulletin sent to officers earlier on Sunday said camouflage and a security badge were also discovered inside Howell's vehicle.
It is unclear if there is any relation to the shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Florida, which left at least 50 people dead and 53 others wounded in the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States. That shooting happened just 6 hours before the incident in California.
Both the Santa Monica Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating.
