Two suspects were arrested after threats against a Pokémon event in Boston. Kevin Norton, 18, and James Stumbo, 27, left Iowa to go to Boston and attend the Pokémon World Championships, as invited players in the Masters’ Division of the Pokémon Trading Card Game tourney.
The security personnel at the Hynes Convention Center and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center received information about both suspects’ possession of weapons in their car after seeing posts on social media. On Thursday, both men were denied entry. As Stumbo was being removed from the location, Norton was trying to enter. None of the suspects had a license to carry firearms.
On Friday, detectives obtained a search warrant to check the suspects’ vehicle. According to the investigation, the two men carried “one 12-gauge Remington shotgun, one DPM5 Model AR-15 rifle, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and a hunting knife.” Both suspects were arrested and charged at a motel in Saugus, Massachusetts, with “unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and other firearm related charges.”
“Prior to the event this weekend, our community of players made us aware of a security issue,” said The Pokemon International Company via a statement today. “We gathered information and gave it as soon as possible to the authorities at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center who acted swiftly and spearheaded communication with the Boston Police Department. Due to quick action, the potential threat was resolved. The Pokemon Company International takes the safety of our fans seriously and will continue to ensure proper security measures are a priority.”
[Sources]: Boston Police Department: Keeping Boston Safe: Officers Arrest Two Suspects, Recover Two Firearms after BPD Notified of Online Threats to Pokemon World Championship; The Daily Beast: Boston Police Foil Potential Massacre at Pokemon World Championship.
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