Arizona man allegedly threatened to drive U-Haul truck into Pride parade and open fire

An Arizona man is facing felony charges after investigators say a campaign of unwanted messages to a former schoolmate escalated into threats of violence against her and LGBTQ+ people.

Maricopa County jail records show Austin Jay Curtis, 32, of Gilbert, was arrested October 12. He faces a felony stalking charge, a felony charge of making a terrorist threat, and a misdemeanor charge of threatening or intimidating. His bond was set at $75,000.

Investigators say Curtis left the woman more than 100 voicemails and contacted her through social media. The two had attended the same high school more than a decade earlier, but according to ABC 15, court records indicate they were neither friends nor former romantic partners. The woman had previously reported harassment to police in July.

According to Phoenix Fox affiliate KSAZ, Curtis said in one of the voicemails that he would “drive a U-Haul through a parade of homosexuals and start firing at everybody.”

Authorities have not publicly identified a specific Pride event as the intended target of the alleged attack, though Phoenix Pride took place the weekend of October 10.

Related: Phoenix man arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up LGBTQ+ bar over Charlie Kirk killing

The investigation intensified the next day, when police say Curtis arrived at the woman’s residence. She reported that someone had struck her door forcefully and called out to her. Bags and boxes were left outside the home, prompting concern because earlier messages had referred to bombs. A bomb disposal team examined the items and found no explosives.

Instead, officers discovered knives, keys, dog-waste bags, and assorted belongings. Curtis later told investigators that he had left the knives because he thought the woman needed a way to defend herself.

The next day, while the woman was speaking with police, Curtis allegedly called her several times. An officer listened during one conversation.

After his arrest, Curtis acknowledged making threatening remarks, but reportedly characterized them as “jokes” and said his statements about attacking LGBTQ+ people were intended to test the limits of free speech. He also said he was “surprised it took this long to get arrested.”

Related: Tucson gay bar killer had a list of LGBTQ+ venues — and a note blaming the community

Curtis has a record of previous arrests, including cases involving domestic violence assault and resisting arrest, along with prior convictions for disorderly conduct and an underage liquor offense.

The case follows other alleged threats and deadly violence against LGBTQ+ people in Arizona, including a plot to attack Phoenix Pride, threats against a Phoenix gay bar, and the killing of two men outside a Tucson LGBTQ+ bar.

In October 2024, Marvin Aneer Jalo, who was 17 at the time, was arrested after authorities said he planned to use an explosive drone during the Phoenix Pride parade. Authorities described the plot as ISIS-inspired.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of terroristic threats on April 3, 2026, and was sentenced to 1.75 years in prison, with credit for 599 days served.

In 2025, Treven Michael Gokey, 49, was arrested on two felony counts of making a terroristic threat and using a computer to threaten, according to a police report cited by AZFamily. Officers said Gokey threatened to shoot people at Cruisin’ 7th, allegedly telling them that “Charlie Kirk was a martyr” and that he himself “was a martyr for Charlie Kirk.”

In Tucson, an investigation is ongoing after police say Ousman Ceesay, 44, shot and killed Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, outside Venture-N in August before turning the gun on himself. Investigators say he confronted the men and possessed “a note with several LGBTQIA+ associated businesses written on it.”