California man arrested after allegedly planning mass shooting, police say

Police say they have arrested a man for allegedly planning to carry out a mass shooting at a Marriott hotel in California.

Long Beach, Calif., police arrested Rodolfo Montoya, 37, who worked as a cook at the hotel, after getting a tip from a fellow employee about his alleged plans, Chief of Police Robert Luna said at a press conference Wednesday.

A preliminary investigation found that Montoya was upset about “human resources issues,” police wrote in a release.{mosads}

A concerned hotel employee notified police Monday of a verbal threat made by a hotel employee, according to the release. They arrested Montoya in his Huntington Beach, Calif., home the next day.

While searching his home, police said they found multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and tactical gear as well as high-capacity magazines and an assault rifle — which are illegal to own in California, the release said.

“In recent months, we have seen several tragic incidents that have resulted in many lives lost,” Luna said. “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.”

Montoya was booked on manufacturing and distributing assault weapons, possession of an assault weapon, and making a criminal threat, police said. He is being held on $500,000 bail.

The Hill has reached out to Marriott for comment.

Montoya is one of dozens of people to be arrested in connection with threats to commit a mass shooting or an act of violence since two deadly massacres in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, that took place earlier this month.