santa-monica

Man with assault rifles and explosives arrested on his way to L.A. gay pride parade

Following the developing story of the deadliest mass shooting in American history, a massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL, a man with assault weapons in his car has been arrested in Santa Monica, the L.A. Times reports.

The man told officials he was in town for L.A. Pride, an LGBTQ+ pride celebration in West Hollywood. 

Read more: UPDATE: 50 killed in deadliest mass shooting in US history at Orlando LGBT club

On the morning of June 12, Santa Monica authorities received reports of a prowler in the area. When police responded to the call, they encountered a man who claimed he was waiting to meet up with a friend. Upon searching the man's car, which had Indiana plates, the officers found weapons, ammunition and materials used in pipe bombs. KTLA reports that there was at least one assault rifle found in the car. 

The Santa Monica officials have said that there is no known connection between the Orlando shooting and the Santa Monica arrest at this time. 

According to the L.A. Times, the city plans to increase security at the Pride parade. The parade was scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m., and a moment of silence was held around that time, according to KTLA. 

This arrest comes just hours after a shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub that left 49 people dead, making it the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

[Photo: Google Maps image of 11th Street in Santa Monica, where the white Acura holding the weapons was held by police.]

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