A would-be mass shooter was thwarted on his way to the Los Angeles gay pride parade on Sunday when he was stopped by law enforcement agents.
According to a Santa Monica Police report, James Howell was arrested with three assault rifles, high capacity magazines, and five gallons of chemicals capable of creating an explosive device — but this 20-year-old wasn’t a religious fundamentalist. He was a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Howell’s Facebook page had several posts telling his friends to vote the Sanders and bashing Hillary Clinton, even comparing the former First Lady to Hitler.
He even wrote in a post that Sanders was the only candidate running for office who didn’t remind him of the former German fascist.
The attempted shooter told police he was looking for a friend who was going to the pride parade in West Hollywood, reported the Los Angeles Times. Police have stated they are looking for that person.
UPDATE: NBC Los Angeles reported that the initial police report was incorrect, Howell did not say he was targeting LA’s PRIDE festivities, only that he planned on going to the event with the heavy arsenal.
The police chief said the investigation was still preliminary and Howell was in custody with bail set at $500,000.
