During the investigation, 18-year-old Christian Sterdivant from Mint Hill, a suburb of Charlotte, was arrested. The young man has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice clarified that his actions were inspired by the ideology of the Islamic State (IS).
The investigation revealed that Christian intended to attack a grocery store and a Burger King restaurant where he had previously worked. However, the specific name of the store was not disclosed.
The preparation for the attack lasted over a year. Sterdivant studied materials related to IS online and created videos about the group for TikTok. He also communicated online with FBI agents whom he believed to be members of IS.
During a search of his home, notes detailing the attack plan were found, as well as items such as hammers and knives that he intended to use. Tactical gloves and a bulletproof vest were also discovered in his bedroom. One of the notes mentioned that he planned to die as a result of a police attack.
The investigation believes that he intended to attack people in the U.S., including non-Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, as well as law enforcement and military personnel, acting alone.
According to the FBI, Christian Sterdivant first came to the attention of law enforcement in 2022 when, as a minor, he attempted to attack a neighbor with a hammer and a knife. He was stopped by his grandfather, and no criminal charges were filed; instead, the teenager was referred for psychological evaluation.
