Mall guard told co-workers he planned to 'shoot up' Pride parade: report

A former security guard at the Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse, N.Y., who allegedly threatened to "shoot up" the premises along with a nearby Pride parade, could face hate crime charges, the Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick said on Friday, according to CNY Central.

He allegedly made the comments to coworkers on May 20, just weeks after starting work at the mall, the report said. He was fired on May 24 and has not yet been charged.

"Paperwork shows that there is a trespass order being put in place to forbid him from entering all property owned and operated by Destiny USA," CNY Central reported.

"An Extreme Risk Protection Order application was granted by New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert Antonacci on Thursday, preventing the former guard from purchasing or possessing a firearm. The order also forces him to surrender any weapons previously in his possession."

The report said police found a pellet gun and a "rusty" shotgun at his home.

"It's infuriating and deeply troubling," said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, adding that security procedures for the mall and parade are being examined. "I can't help but think about the actions taking place around this country where this type of rhetoric has been emboldened in many ways by other people's actions. It's disgusting."

All of this comes amid an explosion of right-wing panic toward LGBTQ people, spurred on by laws being passed around the country limiting their rights. Two months ago, a blogger in Maryland was hit with federal charges for leaving a threat-filled voicemail for an LGBTQ advocacy group."