Two Iowa men are being held without bail after allegedly making online threats against competitors in the Pokemon World Championships in Boston over the weekend.
James Stumbo, 27, of Boone and Kevin Norton, 18, of Ames were arraigned on gun charges Monday morning after police say a post on social media alerted them to a plan to target the event.
Stumbo had posted a photo of the guns resting on a car Wednesday to a Facebook group called "Mayhem Pokemon Crew." The caption read "Kevin Norton and I are ready for worlds Boston here we come!!!"
When another member of the group wrote "Good luck," Norton replied "With killing the competition?" The other member responded, "Haha yes."
Authorities say the threats, which were made in a closed forum, also referred to the Boston Marathon bombings and the Columbine High School massacre.
Stumbo and Norton allegedly made the threats before driving 25 hours to Boston.
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Security at the Hynes Convention Center received word of the post, reporting it to Boston police. The two were stopped as they tried to get into the event Friday, but were released. However, police kept their car.
Stumbo and Norton were arrested Saturday at a Saugus motel after police discovered a shotgun, assault rifle, several hundred rounds of ammunition and a hunting knife in the vehicle.
"They could have done a lot of damage and hurt a lot of people," Boston Police Superintendent Paul Fitzgerald said.
Norton and Stumbo are not currently facing charges in connection to the threats they made online, but the investigation is ongoing and police said they could face additional charges.
Stumbo and Norton's dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1.
