According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, James Howell had 20 pounds (nine kilograms) of explosive mix and five gallons (19 liters) of gasoline when he was arrested on Sunday.
Los Angeles, United States:
An Indiana man arrested over the weekend ahead of the Los Angeles gay pride parade had enough explosive material in his car to make a large bomb, authorities said Tuesday.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, James Howell had 20 pounds (nine kilograms) of explosive mix and five gallons (19 liters) of gasoline when he was arrested on Sunday, just hours after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida that left 49 people dead.
Authorities said the materials were enough to make a bomb similar to the one used in an attack on a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995 that left 168 people dead and hundreds more injured.
They added that some of the materials were already mixed in a bucket in the car.
After his arrest, Howell, 20, told officers that he was looking for a friend and planned to attend the LA Pride parade taking place that same day. He made no mention of planning to do any harm at the vent, authorities said.
He was formally charged on Tuesday with three felony counts of weapons possession and one misdemeanor count of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was ordered held on $2 million bond.
According to court documents, Howell also had a Buck knife in his car when arrested as well as a Taser, a black hood, handcuffs and a security badge.
His motive and the reason why he had the weapons are unclear.
He was detained after a resident reported a prowler knocking on their door and window around 5:00 am.
Security was boosted at the LA Pride parade following his arrest and in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando hours earlier.
According to the Los Angeles Times, citing Indiana court records, Howell was charged in October 2015 with intimidation and a felony count for pointing a firearm at another person.
Prosecutors dropped the felony charge after he pleaded guilty in April to the lesser misdemeanor charge of intimidation.
As part of his plea deal, he agreed to forfeit all weapons during his term of probation.
Joseph Greeson, 18, a friend of Howell's and a fellow car club member, told the Times that Howell harbored no ill will toward gays or lesbians, and that he was bisexual.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, James Howell had 20 pounds (nine kilograms) of explosive mix and five gallons (19 liters) of gasoline when he was arrested on Sunday, just hours after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida that left 49 people dead.
Authorities said the materials were enough to make a bomb similar to the one used in an attack on a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995 that left 168 people dead and hundreds more injured.
They added that some of the materials were already mixed in a bucket in the car.
After his arrest, Howell, 20, told officers that he was looking for a friend and planned to attend the LA Pride parade taking place that same day. He made no mention of planning to do any harm at the vent, authorities said.
He was formally charged on Tuesday with three felony counts of weapons possession and one misdemeanor count of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was ordered held on $2 million bond.
According to court documents, Howell also had a Buck knife in his car when arrested as well as a Taser, a black hood, handcuffs and a security badge.
His motive and the reason why he had the weapons are unclear.
He was detained after a resident reported a prowler knocking on their door and window around 5:00 am.
Security was boosted at the LA Pride parade following his arrest and in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando hours earlier.
According to the Los Angeles Times, citing Indiana court records, Howell was charged in October 2015 with intimidation and a felony count for pointing a firearm at another person.
Prosecutors dropped the felony charge after he pleaded guilty in April to the lesser misdemeanor charge of intimidation.
As part of his plea deal, he agreed to forfeit all weapons during his term of probation.
Joseph Greeson, 18, a friend of Howell's and a fellow car club member, told the Times that Howell harbored no ill will toward gays or lesbians, and that he was bisexual.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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