An 18-year-old from Mint Hill, North Carolina, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization after allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired attack for New Year’s Eve. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced the charges on Friday, following Christian Sturdivant’s initial appearance in federal court in Charlotte.
FBI agents intervened before the attack could take place. According to Ferguson, “He was targeting Jews, Christians and LGBTQ (persons).”
James Barnacle Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI in North Carolina, stated that Sturdivant considered several grocery stores in Mint Hill as possible locations for his attack and intended to strike whichever one had the most people present.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Sturdivant’s home on Monday night. They found handwritten documents including one titled “New Years Attack 2026,” which listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives. The document described plans to stab as many civilians as possible—up to 20 or 21 people—and included a section labeled “martyrdom Op” about attacking police officers so that Sturdivant “would die a martyr,” according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
The complaint also noted that Sturdivant lived with a relative who tried to prevent him from accessing knives and hammers; however, FBI agents found two hammers and two butcher knives under his bed along with a list of targets seized from his bedroom.
“It was a very well-thought-out plan he had,” said Ferguson.
No prior state or federal criminal charges were found for Sturdivant by the Charlotte Observer or confirmed by the U.S. attorney’s office spokesperson. However, officials revealed that the FBI previously investigated him when he was 14 years old due to online contact with an unidentified ISIS member based in Europe. At that time, he received instructions via social media encouraging attacks using a hammer while dressed in black.
In January 2022, according to the complaint, Sturdivant attempted an attack on a neighbor but was stopped by his grandfather. He is also accused of pledging allegiance (“Bayat”) to ISIS before this attempt.
A Mecklenburg County magistrate judge denied an FBI request for involuntary commitment at that time—likely due both to Sturdivant’s age and his agreement to cease social media use—according to Ferguson.
The current criminal complaint details recent communications between Sturdivant and someone he believed was an ISIS member; authorities say this individual was actually an undercover officer from New York City. During these exchanges starting December 12th, Sturdivant reportedly stated “I will do jihad soon” and called himself “a soldier of the state,” referring to ISIS.
Earlier in December, investigators say he posted anti-Christian messages online accompanied by images of figurines of Jesus Christ with derogatory text toward Christians.
On December 14th, according to the FBI agent’s affidavit, he sent pictures of hammers and a knife—the types of weapons promoted for terror attacks by ISIS propaganda publications since at least 2016—for use against Western targets.
Sturdivant allegedly told the undercover officer about specific plans targeting a grocery store in North Carolina and mentioned intentions to acquire firearms alongside knives for use during the planned attack.
On December 19th, he sent another message containing audio pledging loyalty (“Bayat”) once again; all communications were documented by law enforcement leading up to his arrest earlier this week. He remains held without bond at Gaston County jail pending further legal proceedings.
