"A Texas man has agreed to plead guilty to going on social media and threatening to shoot people at an LGBTQ+ parade as vengeance for the murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. Joshua Wayne Cole signed federal court filings indicating that he planned to plead guilty to a charge of interstate threatening communications at a hearing tentatively set for 16 October, about a month after he was arrested in connection with online posts threatening to open fire on a Pride parade in Abilene, Texas."
"one of the posts in question said: Fk their parade, I say we lock and load and pay them back for taking out Charlie Kirk. Cole allegedly continued: Theres only like 30 of em we can send a clear message to the rest of them. And, using a term used to demean LGBTQ+ people, Cole also wrote: Come on bro let's go hunting fairies."
"The posts alluded to certain aspects of the investigation into Kirk's shooting death on 10 September at Utah Valley University (UVU). Citing investigators' interviews with people close to the suspect in the case, Utah prosecutors have alleged Tyler Robinson, 22, killed Kirk after becoming sick of what he perceived to be the activists's hatred. Investigators maintain that they were told by Robinson's family that he had become more pro-gay and trans rights-oriented in the year prior to Kirk's killing."
Joshua Wayne Cole signed federal court filings indicating he will plead guilty to interstate threatening communications for social-media threats to open fire on the Abilene Pride parade. He was arrested about a month after the posts and faces up to five years in prison though guilty pleas typically carry lesser sentences. Organizers reported the posts to local police on Sept. 18, prompting FBI involvement amid heightened tensions after Charlie Kirk's shooting. The posts urged violence and used anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, explicitly referencing revenge for Kirk's killing. Utah prosecutors allege Tyler Robinson killed Kirk; investigators say family reported Robinson had grown more pro-gay and trans rights.
#interstate-threatening-communications #anti-lgbtq-violence #abilene-pride-parade #charlie-kirk-shooting
Read at www.theguardian.com
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