FBI foils teen's alleged planned New Year's Eve attack on North Carolina grocery store
MINT HILL, NORTH CAROLINA: Federal authorities said that they disrupted a planned mass-casualty attack targeting a local grocery store, arresting an 18-year-old suspect just days before the alleged assault was to be carried out.
Christian Sturdivant was taken into custody in late December and charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign radical organization, according to court records unsealed by federal prosecutors.
The undercover operation
The investigation began in mid-December after the FBI received tips regarding Sturdivant’s online activity, prosecutors said. Authorities alleged that he initiated contact on social media with an individual he believed was a recruiter for a foreign extremist group.
That individual was, in fact, an FBI “online covert employee,” according to charging documents. During their communications, Sturdivant allegedly pledged loyalty to the group’s ideology and discussed plans to carry out an imminent violent attack.
On December 14, prosecutors said that Sturdivant sent the undercover contact a photo showing two hammers and a knife, which investigators interpreted as an indication of operational readiness.
Handwritten plans for violence
A search warrant executed at Sturdivant’s residence on December 29, 2025, yielded handwritten documents outlining what authorities described as a detailed attack plan. One document was titled “New Years Attack 2026,” prosecutors said.
The writings allegedly described an intent to stab as many civilians as possible inside a grocery store, listing a target range of “20 to 21” victims. The document also referenced a “martyrdom Op,” indicating that the suspect expected to confront law enforcement and be killed.
Investigators said that the notes included a checklist of equipment for the attack, such as a mask, tactical gloves, and a vest.
Weapons found in bedroom
Agents also recovered weapons from inside Sturdivant’s bedroom, hidden beneath his bed, according to the affidavit. The items included two hammers and two butcher knives, matching weapons referenced in the handwritten materials.
Prosecutors further alleged that Sturdivant discussed acquiring a firearm during his communications with the undercover employee, though no gun was recovered during the search.
The combination of weapons, written plans, and online communications prompted authorities to move quickly ahead of the New Year’s Eve timeframe outlined in the notes.
Online radicalization
The Attorney’s Office said that the FBI formally flagged Sturdivant on December 18 after identifying multiple social media posts expressing support for the foreign extremist group.
One post from early December allegedly featured religious figurines accompanied by language disparaging other faiths. Prosecutors said that the messaging aligned with the group’s ideological rhetoric and historical calls for violence.
Authorities praise swift action
Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited the rapid response of federal and local law enforcement.
“Our teams quickly identified the threat and acted decisively — no doubt saving American lives in the process,” Patel said in a statement.
James C Barnacle Jr, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, said that the case underscored the agency’s mission to prevent domestic attacks before they occur.
“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our commitment to doing exactly that,” Barnacle said.
