Two Men Arrested for Concealed Firearms During the Pokémon World Championship

Published: August 24, 2015 10:22 AM /

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Pokemon World Championships Gun Threat

The Pokémon World Championships were threatened this weekend in Boston Massachusetts, when two participants were arrested for carrying concealed firearms in their car.

Boston police found two firearms, a 12-gauge shotgun and AR-15 Rifle, along with several hundred rounds of ammunition and a hunting knife. The two suspects, 18-year-old Kevin Norton and 27-year-old James Stumbo, did not have licences to carry these firearms. 

Both men would be arrested on Friday evening in their hotel in Saugus, which is North of Boston, where the weapons were found in the trunk of their car after the police produced a search warrant.

It has been reported that the two men made violent social media threats to the people attending the Pokémon World Championships. The conventions security reported the threats on Thursday, and even stopped both Norton and Stumbo from entering into the Pokémon World Championships later that evening. 

Photo courtesy of the Boston Police Deparment
The firearms recovered from the suspects trunk. Photo courtesy of the Boston Police Department.

The threats on social media included images on the Facebook page titled "Mayhem Pokémon Crew," a public Facebook group for Pokémon trading card game enthusiasts. An image posted by Stumbo showed a white sedan with two military-styled weapons crossed over the trunk. 

“Kevin Norton and I are ready for worlds Boston here we come!!!” wrote Stumbo. When a group member posted wishing the two men luck, Norton responded, “With killing the competition?”

Other threats were allegedly made, according to the Boston police.  Rachel MaGuire, a spokesperson for the police, did not go into details but stated, "they were violent in nature." 

Over the weekend, security at the convention center remained tight, with security guards and police officers lining up along the entrances to the Pokémon World Championships. Random bag checks were also in effect throughout the day. 

The Pokémon World Championships are a gathering of the best players in the Pokémon game. Both the video games and the card game are played in several tournaments, which are now streamed on twitch. This was the first time the event was held in Boston.

The two suspects are currently being held on illegal firearm possession, unlawful possession of ammunition, and other firearm-related charges. 

The Pokémon Company International released a statement regarding the actions of the police force of Boston. “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.”

So are you glad this threat was resolved? What else is there to say? Leave your comments below.

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| Staff Writer

A longtime player of games, creator of worlds, and teacher of minds. Robert has worked many positions over the years, from college professor to education… More about Robert