Potential Mass Shooting Averted As Police Stop Heavily Armed Men Entering Pokemon Championships

Boston police, acting on a tip about violent threats, arrested two Iowa men armed with firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition shortly after they tried to enter the Pokémon World Championships in the city’s Hynes Convention Center.

Authorities began investigating the threats and stopped two male suspects from entering the event on Thursday, police said. Detectives were told the suspects had driven to the event from Iowa and had several firearms in their vehicle.

Officers seized their vehicle and executed a search warrant on Friday. In addition to the ammunition, detectives recovered one 12-gauge Remington shotgun, one DPM5 Model AR-15 rifle and a hunting knife, police said.

Police arrested the two men, identified as Kevin Norton, 18 and James Austin Stumbo, 27, hours later at a Saugus hotel.

On a Facebook group page called “Pokemon Mayhem Crew,” a post under the name James Austin Stumbo shows a picture of two weapons with the words, “Kevin Norton and I are ready for worlds Boston here we come!!!“

“Good luck!” wrote a Facebook user named Joey Faux.

“With killing the competition?” asked Norton.

“Haha yes,” replied Faux.

“This incident is a good example of private security reaching out to their local Boston police district and relaying information to detectives and BRIC analysts in order to identify the very real threat,” BPD Bureau of Intelligence and Analysis Commander Superintendent Paul Fitzgerald said.

Norton and Stumbo were both charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and other firearm related charges. The suspects will be arraigned at Boston Municipal Court.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships is an invitation-only event, with players from more than 30 countries competing.

The Pokémon Company International issued the following statement.

“Prior to the event this weekend, our community of players made us aware of a security issue. 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 Pokémon Company International takes the safety of our fans seriously and will continue to ensure proper security measures are a priority.”

The Pokemon World Championship Games began on Friday and conclude Sunday.

Image via Boston PD