Man Arrested by FBI For Allegedly Threatening Texas Pride Parade Attack
Image: Pride Parade, El Paso, TX, Montana Street, June 2022. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
A Texas Pride parade narrowly escaped disaster after authorities foiled a potential attack, arresting a man accused of threatening to open fire on paradegoers. The FBI was drawn in after Abilene police flagged violent comments from a local resident online, prompting an investigation into the plot.
Joshua Cole, 29, was taken into custody on 18 September after the FBI traced concerning Facebook posts to an account under the alias 鈥淛ay Dubya.鈥� According to , court documents show that Cole called for an attack on the Texas Pride parade scheduled two days later.
鈥淔k their parade, I say we lock and load and pay them back for taking out Charlie Kirk,鈥� one comment read. Another taunted: 鈥淐ome on bro, let鈥檚 go hunting fairies.鈥� In a chilling measure of intent, he added, 鈥淭here鈥檚 only like 30 of em鈥攚e can send a clear message to the rest of them.鈥�
Texas Pride parade targeted in wake of Charlie Kirk’s death
Investigators say Cole framed the attack as revenge for the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on 10 September at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors allege Kirk鈥檚 accused killer, Tyler Robinson, had grown more supportive of LGBTQIA+ rights in the past year, and Cole reportedly seized on this context to justify targeting the parade.
An FBI affidavit describes Cole as a 鈥渉ot head鈥� who stormed out of his job shortly before agents approached. During a traffic stop with police and FBI present, he reportedly sighed, his posture signalling he knew why he was being questioned. Cole admitted to operating the 鈥淛ay Dubya鈥� account, posting the threats, and owning a firearm.
While he denied planning an attack, he conceded that 鈥渁 reasonable person could interpret his comments as a threat.鈥� FBI Special Agent Sam Venuti concluded the threats was 鈥渟pecific鈥� and 鈥渘ot conditional,鈥� aimed squarely at Pride parade attendees.
Cole now faces federal charges for threatening communications, a felony that carries up to five years in prison. He remains in custody pending further proceedings.
For organisers and the queer community alike, the arrest was a stark reminder of how quickly Pride can become a target and why vigilance against such threats is more important than ever. The Abilene Pride Alliance praised the 鈥渟wift action鈥� of law enforcement while reiterating that their event would remain 鈥渁 safe, inclusive and celebratory space for all.鈥�
However, the threat is far from isolated amid rapidly growing anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric. On 17 September, an Arizona man who described himself as a 鈥渕artyr for Charlie Kirk鈥� was arrested on terrorism charges. As per , he threatened a mass shooting at Cruisin 7th, a popular gay bar in Phoenix.
The incidents show that LGBTQIA+ communities are still at risk and safeguarding is in need, as politically motivated online threats spill into real-world violence.
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