Santa Monica police spokesman Saul Rodriguez said detectives are “not aware of what the suspect’s intentions were at this point.” Authorities were looking for that individual. Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said the suspect told police he was going to the Pride parade to look for a friend. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation, said authorities also found camouflage clothing in the car. But Tannerite is known as a material used in the construction of other types of explosive devices. The maker of the material said that was not the case and that it can only be detonated by high-velocity impact such as a bullet strike. Officers inspected the car and found three assault rifles, high-capacity ammunition and a 5-gallon bucket containing “chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device,” police said.Ī law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the contents of the bucket included Tannerite, an ingredient that could be used to create a pipe bomb. Patrol officers responded and encountered Howell, who was sitting in a car registered in Indiana, police said. in the 1700 block of 11th Street, Santa Monica police said. Investigators are now trying to piece together what happened but said they don’t believe there is any connection between the incident and the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that killed at least 50 people overnight.Įarly Sunday, Santa Monica police received a call about a suspected prowler who was knocking on a resident’s door and window about 5 a.m.
Greeson said that Howell harbored no ill will toward gays or lesbians and added that Howell was bisexual.įederal and local law enforcement decided against canceling the annual parade, which went forward Sunday morning under tightened security. “He needs to stop pointing guns at people.” “James is going to get someone hurt,” one witness said, the article said. In the article, witnesses also described Howell as having pointed his gun at his boyfriend in an earlier incident. Howell allegedly pointed a gun at his neighbors in the October incident, according to a News and Tribune article. Under the deal, He agreed to forfeit all weapons during his term of probation. Court records show he was sentenced to a year in state prison and placed on probation. On April 19, Howell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor intimidation, and prosecutors dropped the charge of pointing a firearm. He added that Howell was known to have a gun collection.Īccording to Indiana court records, Howell was charged in October 2015 with intimidation and felony pointing a firearm at another person. Greeson said Howell’s family in Jeffersonville hadn’t seen him for days and that his parents had called Greeson’s parents looking for him.
Howell’s friend and fellow car club member Joseph Greeson, 18, said Howell didn’t harbor any ill will toward gays or lesbians. 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.” “Unfortunately, she was given incorrect information initially, which indicated that that statement was made however, that statement never was made. He said the suspect told investigators that he was going to the Pride festival but said he did not make additional statements about his intentions. Saul Rodriguez said later the tweet was a misstatement. Update: Court date set for Indiana man found with weapons before L.A. Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks initially said on Twitter that the 20-year-old man told one of her officers after he was arrested that he wanted “to harm Gay Pride event.” Authorities on Sunday were trying to determine the intentions of an Indiana man with a cache of weapons, ammunition and explosive-making materials in his car and apparent plans to attend the L.A.