The two men accused of making threats on social media against attendees of the Pokémon World Championships in Boston are being held without bail after appearing in court on Monday.
Kevin Norton, 18, and James Stumbo, 27, both of Iowa, were arrested over the weekend and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and other firearm related charges, according to the Boston Police Department.
Prosecutors say that other individuals in a Facebook chat room conversation made reference to “Columbine pt 2,” “another Boston massacre,” and the “Boston bombing.” Stumbo, who apparently saw the posts, allegedly referred to his AR-15 rifle, stating, “My AR-15 says you lose.”
He allegedly went on to post, as a caption underneath a photograph of Norton’s car with weapons displayed on its trunk, that he was “on his way to Boston” and that “Kevin Norton and I are ready for worlds Boston here we come!!!” according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Strumbo was represented in court by his attorney Steve Goldwyn on Monday.
“I have no other comments at this time. We hope that the public does not rush to judgment, and they let the facts and the law run its course. Each case needs to be judged on its own merits,” Goldwyn told CNN by phone.
Attempts to reach Norton’s attorney were not successful.
On Thursday, authorities of the Boston Regional Intelligence Center were informed of threats made over social media to the participants of the Pokémon event being held at the Hynes Convention Center. Norton and Stumbo were stopped trying to enter the event.
While speaking with the officers, Norton allegedly made statements that both he and Strumbo had driven from Iowa to attend the Pokémon championships and they had a shotgun and a rifle in the vehicle they traveled in, according to prosecutors. The men were released but their vehicle was seized.
On Friday, detectives executed a warrant on the vehicle and found one 12-gauge Remington shotgun, one DPMS Model AR-15 rifle, several hundred rounds of ammunition and a hunting knife.
The men were taken into custody on Saturday by police, FBI and Homeland Security officers, at a Saugus, Massachusetts, hotel.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 1.