8 facts about armed LA pride suspect: Reported bisexuality, NRA sticker
Armed would-be L.A. Pride Parade goer James Wesley Howell was reportedly bisexual, his family hadn't seen him in days and his license plate bore an NRA sticker.
One day after the 20-year-old Indiana native was arrested in Santa Monica while en route to the even in West Hollywood, facts about Howell are surfacing, though city police told TheWrap that his motives and intentions still remain unclear. The suspect was arrested after a resident notified the Santa Monica Police Department of his suspicious behavior, including loitering and knocking on doors.
Howell's arrest came hours after Omar Mateen killed 50 people at an LGBT night club in Orlando, the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
SEE ALSO: Man Arrested Before LA Gay Pride Parade Had 3 Assault Rifles
Howell's now-deleted Facebook profile depicts a young, white male who loved cars and held several jobs, including one in which he, like Mateen, worked as a security guard. A number of his posts were anti-Democrat/anti-Hillary Clinton, the latest being a post comparing the presidential candidate to Adolf Hitler.
See eight facts we know about Howell below.
1. He did not intend to "harm"
James Howell did not intend to "harm" attendees at L.A.'s Gay Pride Parade, the Santa Monica police said Sunday, reversing an earlier statement.
The "harm" statement was inaccurate, said police chief Jacqueline Seabrooks, the source who originated it.
Instead, Howell said he merely wanted to attend the event.
2. Three assault rifles were found in Howell's car
Police found three assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition and a five-gallon bucket filled with chemicals capable of "being formed into an improvised explosive device" in Howell's car after a resident notified police of his suspicious behavior, including loitering and knocking on doors.
SEE ALSO: 8 Latest Developments in Orlando Shooting
3. His car displayed NRA marks on it
Howell's Indiana license plate featured National Rifle Association indicia, revealed when officers performed a search of his vehicle.
Lt. Saul Rodriguez from the Santa Monica Police Department told TheWrap that Howell's license plate appeared to bear an NRA symbol, although it wasn't clear whether it was a sticker on the license plate or the license plate frame itself.
4. Howell was transported to L.A. County Jail, will be arraigned tomorrow
Rodriguez told TheWrap that Howell was transported to the L.A. County Jail, and will be arraigned tomorrow on three state charges.
Those charges include possession of an explosive device, possession and carrying of a loaded weapon in a vehicle and possession of high-capacity magazines.
Rodriguez also added that the Santa Monica Police Department is still waiting to hear from the FBI on whether there will be federal charges. This is a joint investigation.
5. Howell's family hadn't seen him in days
According to the Los Angeles Times, Howell's friend Joseph Greeson said it had been days since Howell was last seen by his family, and that they had called Greeson to look for him.
6. He was bisexual, not anti-gay
Greeson also noted that Howell had no "ill will" towards gays or lesbians and claimed that Howell himself was bisexual.
7. He was on probation
According to ABC7, Howell was arrested on Oct. 15 after he threatened to shoot his neighbor in Indiana with a .44-caliber Smith and Wesson. He was allegedly charged with a felony for pointing a gun and a misdemeanor for intimidation. He was sentenced to one year of probation after pleading guilty to the lesser charge.
According to the Indianapolis Star, part of his probation included having to "forfeit all weapons" during the one-year period.
8. Howell has at least four firearms
Howell's ex-boyfriend Richard Hambrick told the Los Angeles Times that Howell had at least four firearms.
"He likes his guns," Hambrick said.
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