According to Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Sturdivant has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Ferguson detailed that the teenager’s journey into extremist activities began online, where he tried to connect with someone he believed to be affiliated with ISIS. Unbeknownst to him, his contact was, in fact, an undercover FBI agent.

As the investigation progressed, Sturdivant arranged to meet with another undercover FBI operative in person. It was during this meeting that Sturdivant reportedly divulged more concrete details about his planned attack. “He started to be very specific with his plans,” Ferguson revealed.

This arrest underscores the persistent threat posed by lone-wolf actors and the critical role undercover operations play in thwarting such plots before they can be executed. The FBI’s proactive measures have once again highlighted the importance of vigilance and the complexities involved in counter-terrorism efforts.

At some point, Sturdivant met with another undercover FBI agent in person. 

“(He) met a second undercover with the FBI … and he started to be very specific with his plans,” Ferguson said. 

Prosecutors allege Sturdivant planned to attack a grocery store and restaurant in Mint Hill, North Carolina, while people were shopping ahead of their New Year’s Eve celebrations. Officials said he had knives and hammers, and planned to use those during his attack. He allegedly planned to die at the hands of police during the attack, becoming a “martyr.” 

“Innocent people were going to die, and we are very fortunate they did not,” Ferguson said. “Countless lives were saved here. New Year’s Eve, everybody’s at the grocery store, buying what they need.” 

Law enforcement officials said Sturdivant was working alone, although he believed he was working with ISIS agents, who in reality were FBI investigators. 

Sturdivant also sent the FBI agents a picture of two hammers and knife and claimed he was planning to purchase a firearm to use in the potential attack, arrest records say. 

James Barnacle, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge, said a multi-state task force spent weeks tracking Sturdivant to make sure he was unable to execute the attack. 

“We went all hands on deck,” Barnacle said Friday. 

Investigators at one point tried to get Sturdivant involuntarily committed to a mental health facility because he was threatening the lives of others and himself but were unsuccessful. 

When searching Sturdivant’s home before he was arrested, Barnacle said law enforcement officials found a manifesto that “detailed plans to execute a massacre on New Year’s Eve as people shopped for the holidays.” The plan included up to 21 victims, if he was successful. 

“We could be announcing national tragedy,” he said during the Friday press conference. “Instead a terrorist attack was thwarted.”

Sturdivant had been on the FBI’s radar since 2022, when he was a 14-year-old teenager. At that time, Sturdivant came into contact with a real ISIS member, who advised him on a plan to knock on people’s doors to attack them with a hammer. 

The 18-year-old had his initial court appearance Friday, but law enforcement officials said bail had not been set. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.