I side with the sicko

Man detained for making Super Bowl threats

Erin Kozak
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 7, 2008 12:00 AM
A Tempe man surrendered to police on Super Bowl Sunday after plotting to shoot and kill people at the big game because of a liquor-license dispute, according to federal-court documents.

Kurt Havelock, who had recently purchased an AR-15 assault rifle from the Scottsdale Gun Club, mailed to media outlets eight copies of a manifesto.

In it he explained why he was planning to kill people at the Super Bowl, according to court documents.

In the eight-page manifesto, he said the original site of the planned massacre was Phoenix's Desert Ridge Marketplace, that abuts Scottsdale, but that "scum and villainy" are in Scottsdale and that instead he "will shed the blood of the innocent."

Havelock, who is in his mid-30s, is being detained by federal authorities and is suspected of mailing threatening communications.

Havelock told authorities he was distraught because Tempe had recently denied his application for a liquor license.

In October, Havelock applied for a liquor license with the Tempe City Council.

But his application was recommended for denial when an Internet blog by Havelock stated that the restaurant would be named "Drunkenstein's" and not "The Haunted Castle," which was stated in the application.

"How many dollars will you lose? And all because you took my right . . . to own a business from me," the manifesto said.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said in response to Havelock's case, "My understanding is there is an ongoing federal investigation and I'm not at liberty to comment any further."

Staff reporter Diana Nanez contributed to this article.