A disgruntled Marriott employee who had an enormous arsenal of weapons stashed at his home was arrested after telling a colleague he planned to carry out a mass shooting at his workplace, authorities have said.
Rodolfo Montoya, of Huntington Beach, California, was allegedly plotting to murder his co-workers and Marriott hotel guests with his cache of high-powered firearms – including two assault rifles, a pump-action shotgun and several pistols – following an undisclosed dispute with his HR department.
But his plan was foiled when the 37-year-old cook let slip his deadly intentions to a colleague who informed their manager. The manager then called the Long Beach Police Department who raided Montoya’s home and seized the stockpile of weapons.
Photographs released by authorities shows a haul of thousands of rounds of ammunition, shotgun cartridges and an array of handguns and rifles capable of causing an attack similar to the Las Vegas shooting incident in 2017, which saw 58 people killed and 422 more wounded.
Rodolfo Montoya, of Huntington Beach, California, was allegedly plotting to murder his co-workers and hotel guests with his cache of high-powered firearms – including two assault rifles, a pump-action shotgun and several pistols – after an undisclosed dispute with his HR department
Thousands of rounds of ammunition are pictured following the police raid. LBPD were alerted to the potential mass shooting by a colleague of Montoya’s who said the gunman had revealed his deadly intentions to him following an alleged HR dispute
Body armor and numerous magazines were found among the weapon haul which was discovered by LBPD following a tip-off
‘Multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and tactical gear were seized, including high-capacity magazines and an assault rifle, which are illegal to possess in California,’ Long Beach Police officials said in a statement late Wednesday.
Montoya was charged with manufacturing and distributing assault weapons, possession of an assault weapon and making a criminal threat. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail at the Long Beach City Jail.
‘We have seen several tragic incidents that have resulted in many lives lost,’ said LBPD Chief of Police Robert G. Luna in a press conference disclosing the arrest.
‘The witnesses who came forward and the diligence of our employees involved in this investigation very likely prevented a threat of violence and saved many lives.’
A semi-automated weapon, bolt action rifle and revolver were recovered by police in the potentially deadly shooting plot
A pump-action shotun and semi-automated weapon were recovered by police in the potentially deadly shooting plot
The weapons and ammunition haul is pictured which included thousands of rounds of ammunition and shotgun cartridges
Montoya, who worked as a cook for the hotel, allegedly spoke to a fellow employee on Monday about the HR dispute and threatened ‘that he was going to shoot up fellow employees and people coming into the hotel.’
‘That is terrifying,’ said Imran Ahmed, the general manager of the Long Beach Marriott, at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive.
During a news conference today, Luna turned and directly addressed Ahmed and said: ‘Sir, you saved many lives, not only of your employees but any customers that may have been at the Marriott when this guy decided to show up and carry out his threat.’
Montoya does not appear to have any criminal history that would prevent him from legally purchasing the firearms, although some of the weapons found by police at Montoya’s home ‘may be illegal to possess,’ along with some of the high-capacity ammunition magazines, Luna said.
‘We have seen several tragic incidents that have resulted in many lives lost,’ said LBPD Chief of Police Robert G. Luna (pictured) in a statement. The witnesses who came forward and the diligence of our employees involved in this investigation very likely prevented a threat of violence and saved many lives’
During a news conference today, Luna turned and directly addressed Ahmed (pictured in a grey suit to the right of the photo) and said: ‘Sir, you saved many lives, not only of your employees but any customers that may have been at the Marriott when this guy decided to show up and carry out his threat’
Some 25 people have now been arrested over threats to carry out a mass shooting since the attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, at the start of August. The FBI has been on high-alert for copycat shooters, it has been reported
The Long Beach Marriott where Montoya worked and was allegedly planning to carry out his deadly assault
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia told reporters on Wednesday that he felt the police department had worked to ‘avert what could have been a real tragedy.’
‘Suspect Montoya had clear plans, intent and the means to carry out an act of violence that may have resulted in a mass casualty incident,’ Luna said.
‘We want to thank the hotel employee for bringing this information forward,’ officials added in a department press release.
‘This incident is excellent example of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ philosophy and how critical it is to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.’
Some 25 people have now been arrested over threats to carry out a mass shooting since the attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, at the start of August. The FBI has been on high-alert for copycat shooters, it has been reported.