A 42-year-old Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to shoot up the Abilene Pride Parade as revenge for the recent assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Two days before the parade, Cole replied to a Facebook post in which an acquaintance complained about a “no guns” policy instituted by the organizers.

“They don’t want anyone showing up and taking them out like they wanna do everyone else,” Cole replied, according to screenshots of his Facebook comments included in the affidavit. “Maybe we should protest lol.”

When another poster wrote a message snidely wishing “those they/thems” a “good parade,” Cole allegedly pounced.

“Fk their parade i say we lock and load and pay them back for taking out Charlie Kirk,” Cole replied, according to the affidavit. “[T]heres only like 30 of em we can send a clear message to the rest of them. [C]ome on bro lets go hunting fairies.”
Cole was arrested by the FBI a day later, telling agents that he “did not believe that the gay pride event should be allowed,” while claiming he didn’t actually intend to gun down parade participants, the affidavit states.