During the investigation, 18-year-old Christian Sterdivant, who lives in the suburb of Charlotte, Mint Hill, was arrested. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. According to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, the young man was inspired by the ideology of the Islamic State (IS).
The investigation revealed that Sterdivant was plotting an attack on a grocery store and a Burger King restaurant in Mint Hill, where he had previously worked. However, the specific address that could have been the target of the attack was not disclosed.
The preparation for the attack lasted about a year. During this time, the suspect actively studied materials about IS online and posted videos on TikTok related to the group. Additionally, he communicated online with undercover FBI agents and New York police officers, whom he mistakenly believed to be members of IS.
During a search of his home, notes detailing the plan and tools he intended to use—hammers and knives hidden under his bed—were found. Tactical gloves and a bulletproof vest were also discovered in the bedroom. In one of the notes, Sterdivant expressed his intention to die in a confrontation with the police.
According to the investigation, his plan was to attack a wide range of people in the U.S., including non-Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, as well as law enforcement officers and military personnel, acting alone.
According to the FBI, Sterdivant came to the attention of the authorities back in 2022 when he was a minor. At that time, he left home dressed in black with the intention of attacking a neighbor with a hammer and knife but was stopped by his grandfather. No criminal charges were filed then, and the teenager received psychological assistance.
