Man Charged With Threatening Mass Shooting at Pride Event

Federal agents say they intercepted a threat before it turned into violence at a Texas Pride event. Michael Thompson, a United States Postal Service employee from Clovis, New Mexico, was arrested Sunday after a tipster alerted authorities to social media posts threatening a mass shooting at a Pride celebration in Lubbock, the FBI says. Thompson, 44, allegedly admitted making and then deleting the posts and told investigators he worked for the USPS, Fox News reports

Agents say they found four guns at his home; according to the FBI, he is barred from possessing firearms because of a past felony domestic-violence conviction. He's now charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and sending threats across state lines. Investigators say Thompson left threatening remarks about "hunting season" and "target practice" on an article about the event that the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal posted on Facebook. Per the Avalanche-Journal, Thompson told agents that he was a "dumba--" who was just "running his mouth" and didn't plan to shoot anybody.

The Lubbock Pride festival went ahead over the weekend without incident. "Yesterday was filled with so much love, fun, and community, and we couldn't have asked for a better celebration," organizers said on Facebook. "Thank you to everyone who came out and made it so special!" According to a news release from the US Attorney's Office in New Mexico, Thompson, who could face a maximum of five years in prison, is in custody pending a Wednesday detention hearing.