Daily London
Sturdivant, a US citizen, was arrested before any such plan could commence on New Year’s Eve as he was being released from a medical facility, James C. Barnacle Jr., FBI special agent in charge, said.
While the teen planned to carry out an attack that day, it was not tied to a specific New Year’s event.
The teen appeared in court for the first time Friday and another hearing is set for January 7.
Teen plotted to ‘do Jihad soon,’ authorities said
During a search warrant executed at Sturdivant’s home, FBI agents found hammers and knives hidden under his bed, handwritten notes about the alleged plot and a list of targets along with details about what he’d wear during and how he would execute it.
From what authorities described as a manifesto, titled “New Year’s Attack 2026,” investigators gathered that Sturdivant was targeting Jews, Christians and the LGBTQ community to stab “as many civilians as possible,” authorities said.
Ferguson called the attack “very well planned,” adding that Sturdivant “was preparing for Jihad and innocent people were going to die, and we were very, very fortunate they did not”.
Known to FBI since the age of 14
The FBI first learned of Sturdivant in January 2022 when he “was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas,” Barnacle said.
That member, the FBI said, directed the then 14-year-old to dress in all black, knock on doors and attack people with a hammer, guidance Sturdivant followed closely before a family member stepped in.
