LOS ANGELES (AP) — Santa Monica’s police chief says she was incorrect when she said a heavily armed Indiana man told investigators he was headed to a gay pride parade in order to do harm.
Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said in a tweet to The Associated Press that her earlier statement on James Howell was inaccurate. The chief said Howell had only told police that he was going to the event known as LA Pride, and he did not say what he intended to do there.
Police say the 20-year-old Howell was arrested on Sunday morning in Santa Monica with three assault rifles, ammunition, and chemicals that can be used to make explosives.
The arrest came just a few hours after at least 50 people were shot and killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.