FBI claims ‘lone wolf’ teen inspired by ISIS was planning knives and hammers attack at grocery store on New Year’s Eve
Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization
The FBI thwarted an ISIS-inspired New Year’s Eve attack inside a grocery store in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the suspect revealed his alleged plans to undercover officers, prosecutors said.
Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday, and had been on the FBI’s radar since 2022 when he was a juvenile.
The suspect, who worked at Burger King, intended to carry out a “lone wolf” style attack and planned to attack shoppers with knives and hammers, prosecutors said.
Agents surveilled Sturdivant “around the clock” during the holidays. Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, alleged that Sturdivant began by going on ISIS websites and “eventually reached out to what he thought was a member of ISIS.”
“In reality, [it] was an undercover agent with NYPD in New York,” Ferguson said at a press conference. “He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that undercover agent, and he disclosed his plans to quote ‘do jihad soon.’”
“He then met a second undercover with the FBI, who he also thought was an ISIS participant,” Ferguson continued. “And he started to be very specific with his plans.”
Sturdivant allegedly revealed his plans to carry out the attack at a grocery store in Mint Hill.
“He talked about what means he would use to kill innocent people,” Ferguson said. “It was a very well-planned attack that he had planned, and that was fortunately foiled.”
During a search of the suspect’s home on December 29, law enforcement found handwritten documents, including one titled “New Years Attack 2026.”
“I can tell you from his notes he was targeting Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals,” Ferguson added.
“We allege Sturdivant was willing to sacrifice himself by committing a terrorist attack using knives and a hammer to support the murder, torture and extreme violence that ISIS represents,” said James Barnacle, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in charge of the investigation.
“We didn't just learn about him a few weeks ago. Sturdivant first came to the FBI radar in January of 2022 when he was still a juvenile,” he added, when he was in contact with an unidentified member of ISIS.
“Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people's doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately, his family stepped in,” Barnacle said of the 2022 incident.
No charges were filed at the time and Sturdivant was referred to psychological care, according to Barnacle.
“This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations,” Barnacle added.
When asked why he wasn’t charged at the time by a reporter, Ferguson cited Sturdivant’s age.
“I’ll note that he was a juvenile at that time. He was 14, and I do think we're very fortunate he was 18 now, because it makes it a whole lot easier to bring charges,” he said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said law enforcement officials “saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve” in a social media post.
“The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law,” she said.
It comes a year on from the deadly New Orleans attack on revellers ringing in the new year on Bourbon Street on January 1, 2025.
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks