The Indiana man police said was heading for the weekend's Los Angeles Pride Parade armed with weapons and explosives has been formally charged in court. James Wesley Howell appears in court James Wesley Howell, 20, was charged with possession of explosives on a highway, possession of an assault weapon and possession of high-capacity magazines. The misdemeanor charge was possession of a firearm in a car. He faces over nine years in jail if found guilty on all charges. Howell’s arrest early Sunday LA time triggered a local panic when Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks mistakenly tweeted that Howell intended to “harm” the L.A. Pride festival in nearby West Hollywood. Authorities now say they do not yet know his intentions, although Howell did say to a police officer that he was going to the Pride Parade. They also they believe there is no link between Howell and the Orlando tragedy.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 15th June 2016 - 5:32pm