An 18-year-old North Carolina resident has been charged with planning a potential terrorist attack on New Year's Eve, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Christian Sturdivant, who turned 18 last month, allegedly plotted to carry out a knife and hammer attack against random individuals in support of ISIS.
Sturdivant had started reading ISIS material online, visiting their websites, creating TikTok videos, and even reaching out to someone he believed was an ISIS member. However, the individual he contacted was actually an undercover agent with the NYPD.
The suspect's plans included targeting a grocery store or a Burger King, with a handwritten document titled "The New Year's Attack" outlining his intentions to stab as many civilians as possible and kill up to 21 people. Authorities also found a note professing a plea for Jihad, the Islamic oath of allegiance used by ISIS.
Sturdivant had pledged his allegiance to ISIS with the undercover agent and disclosed his plans to "do jihad soon." He was almost out the door dressed in all black when he was restrained by his grandfather, who works at a grocery store and is a Christian minister in the Charlotte area. Sturdivant worked at a Burger King.
The suspect's social media activity had previously caught the FBI's attention after he posted threats online, including a message on December 15 saying "I'm prepared for death." He allegedly attempted to acquire a gun from an undercover FBI agent a day after Christmas while talking about planning an attack.
During his initial appearance in federal court, Sturdivant is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years. The case is now set to proceed through the judicial process.
Sturdivant had started reading ISIS material online, visiting their websites, creating TikTok videos, and even reaching out to someone he believed was an ISIS member. However, the individual he contacted was actually an undercover agent with the NYPD.
The suspect's plans included targeting a grocery store or a Burger King, with a handwritten document titled "The New Year's Attack" outlining his intentions to stab as many civilians as possible and kill up to 21 people. Authorities also found a note professing a plea for Jihad, the Islamic oath of allegiance used by ISIS.
Sturdivant had pledged his allegiance to ISIS with the undercover agent and disclosed his plans to "do jihad soon." He was almost out the door dressed in all black when he was restrained by his grandfather, who works at a grocery store and is a Christian minister in the Charlotte area. Sturdivant worked at a Burger King.
The suspect's social media activity had previously caught the FBI's attention after he posted threats online, including a message on December 15 saying "I'm prepared for death." He allegedly attempted to acquire a gun from an undercover FBI agent a day after Christmas while talking about planning an attack.
During his initial appearance in federal court, Sturdivant is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years. The case is now set to proceed through the judicial process.
he was literally planning to stab people and kill as many civilians as possible on NYE?! and it's like, how did this even happen under our noses? I mean, we all know about the danger of radicalization online, but to think that someone is actually serious enough to carry out an attack... it's just crazy 
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. It's just heartbreaking to think about all the innocent people who could've been affected if Sturdivant had succeeded in his plans.
I mean who posts about planning an attack with a gun and then tries to buy one from an undercover agent? that's just amateur hour, dude! 
gotta keep the conversation going around how we address this stuff...
I'm not saying he's innocent or anything, but I think we need to take a step back and consider what might've driven this kid to try to plan something like that. 
Or were there deeper issues at play?
Maybe Sturdivant was feeling stuck in his life and saw ISIS as an outlet? Or maybe there's more to this story than we know... 
. it's crazy how easy it was for him to get drawn into all that ISIS stuff online. you would think the FBI would've caught a whiff of something sooner, but I guess they did do their part in taking him down 
. 20 yrs is a looong sentence tho... hope he gets some kinda counseling or therapy while he's behind bars to help him deal with whatever demons led him to this path 
. anywayz, just glad the public is safe 
this guy is literally the WORST!!! 
I mean, what's wrong with him? He thinks it's cool to join a terrorist group just because they're online and have videos? 
. And that note he wrote... 
I don't even want to read it, it's just too sad. The fact that his own grandfather restrained him before he could do any harm... 
please. Can't we all just get along and be kind to each other? 
how did the undercover agent even catch him if he was talking to someone who thought they were part of ISIS? 
and the fact that his own grandfather stopped him from going through with it is wild 
We can't let our guard down, no matter how seemingly innocuous something may seem. 
at least he didnt carry out the attack tho, cuz that wud be a whole nother level of tragedy. i feel bad 4 his family tho, they must be so scared & worried bout him right now 
