After authorities were alerted of a recent bomb threat targeting the TransLatin@ Coalition, a Los Angeles nonprofit serving transgender Latinx communities, officials on Monday, April 15, condemned growing hate against LGBTQ+ groups.
The TransLatin@ Coalition, one of the nation’s largest trans-led organizations, joined L.A. County and police officials to speak out at a joint press conference Monday, April 15.
Police say a 60-year-old man was being held Monday for allegedly threatening to bomb or set fire to the TransLatin@ Coalition’s headquarters on 3055 Wilshire Blvd. in Koreatown.
At Monday’s news conference, officials named the suspect as Henry Nolkemper, whom they said was arrested on April 11 in connection with the alleged threats, and is being held on a $1 million bail.
Police say the suspect, who identified himself as “Henry,” called the National Suicide Hotline on March 28 around 9:25 p.m. and “made several statements regarding the bombing of the TransLatin@ Coalition business on Juneteenth,” said LAPD Assistant Chief Blake Chow.
Nolkemper reportedly “also referenced setting their building on fire using an accelerant. He also made a brief statement about attacking the L.A. Pride Parade in June,” Chow said. Police believe he was acting on his own.
Chow said the phone call bomb threat was recorded and reported to police that evening, who identified the suspect as Nolkemper, and attempted to find the suspect with no luck. LAPD officials began surveilling his Los Angeles home. The detectives were eventually able to contact Nolkemper by phone, and he surrendered to police, officials said.
On April 11, Nolkemper was arrested at his home without incident. He was booked on suspicion of making a false bomb threat, police said. He had a criminal history and “context with mental health,” Chow said.
Nolkemper was on probation when he allegedly committed the threat and was arrested, Chow said.
Police said he was charged by the L.A….
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