The FBI has foiled an “ISIS-inspired” attack on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina.
Christian Sturdivant, 18, was allegedly planning to launch an ISIS attack on a grocery store in Mint Hill, N.C., on New Year’s Eve, officials with the Department of Justice announced in a press conference on January 2.
“He turned his back on his country and his fellow citizens by pledging allegiance to ISIS with the intent of becoming a martyr,” said FBI-Charlotte Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle in the conference.
Sturdivant was reportedly planning to use knives and hammers against innocent Americans – specifically Christians, Jews, and LGBTQ individuals, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson.
The suspect worked at Burger King and was likely planning to target a nearby grocery store.
“He was preparing for jihad and innocent people were going to die,” Ferguson said.
The suspect is currently in federal custody, and he could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to a DOJ press release. He had an initial appearance in federal court the morning of January 2.
A Radical Islamic Plot
Sturdivant began reading ISIS materials online, according to Ferguson.
He allegedly posted an image with two miniature figurines of Jesus in early December 2025, writing, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers,” according to the release.
Officials claim this is consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of non-believers like Christians and Jews, and less extreme Muslims.
Sturdivant began communicating with someone he thought was an ISIS member on December 12, according to the release. He allegedly said, “I will do jihad soon,” and called himself a “soldier of the state,” referencing ISIS.
The suspect allegedly sent an online message on December 14 with an image of two hammers and a knife. He operated under the username “Abu Bakr Al Amriki.”
An article in ISIS’ 2016 propaganda magazine allegedly promoted the use of knives in terror attacks on Western countries, and inspired actual attacks, according to the release. Sturdivant later allegedly admitted this was his plan.
The person he thought was an ISIS member was really an undercover agent with the New York Police Department, according to Ferguson.
“He pledged his allegiance to ISIS,” Ferguson said. “He disclosed his plans to ‘do jihad soon.’”
FBI-Charlotte learned Sturdivant was making social media posts in support of ISIS on December 18, according to the release. He allegedly sent a voice recording to the undercover agent on December 19, pledging “bayat,” or loyalty to ISIS.
“On December 20, the direct messaging allegedly showed Sturdivant asking for help getting firearms, specifically weapons, guns, to carry out the terrorist attack at a food market,” Barnacle said. “Thankfully, that did not occur.”
FBI agents began surveilling Sturdivant’s home to ensure he would not carry out the attack.
According to the release, police then carried out a search warrant at his home on December 29, where they found documents – including one titled “New Years Attack 2026.”
“Goal: Stab as much taghuti [worshipers of other gods] civilians as possible,” the document reads. “Attack police once they arrive (die a martyr).”
Studrivant aimed to kill 20 to 21 victims, according to the document. He apparently wrote the attack was “in response of the attacks and airstrikes on the brothers in Syria,” and called the violence a “martyrdom op.”
“The grandfather secured the knives in the home, secured the hammers, tried to make sure that Sturdivant did not have them,” Ferguson said. “Yet, when we executed the search warrant, they were found under his bed.”
Agents found a blue hammer, a wooden hammer, and two butcher knives hidden under his bed, according to the release. They also seized a list of targets, tactical gloves, and a vest.
Prior Red Flags
The FBI first learned about Sturdivant in 2022, when he was just 14, according to Barnacle.
“He was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas,” Barnacle said. “Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on peoples’ doors, and attack them with a hammer.”
The suspect, dressed in all black, left his house with a hammer, but his family stepped in and stopped him.
“No charges were filed,” Barnacle said. “At that time, he was referred for psychological care, and he underwent psychological care.”
At that point, the FBI was told he no longer had access to social media. Ahead of his most recent plot, agents learned he had gained access again.
“If your child, relative, friend, or neighbor is sliding into a dangerous ideology, you’ll be the first to see it,” Barnacle said. “Together, we can stop it.”
During the conference, Mint Hill Police Chief Joseph Hatley warned Americans to be vigilant.
“That’s everyone’s famous last words – ‘It’s never going to happen here, that can’t be my neighbor,’” he said. “It can happen anywhere.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged on X to continue pursuing justice against terrorists.
“The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers,” she wrote. “Anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.”
This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks… https://t.co/65IZARb2Zk
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 2, 2026
In a separate incident, a Midlothian man, John Michael Garza Jr., 21, was charged with international terrorism on December 29 for allegedly pledging allegiance to ISIS and delivering bomb components and instructions to an undercover agent, as The Dallas Express reported at the time.
Like Sturdivant, an undercover NYPD agent flagged Garza and began the investigation online.
