Federal law enforcement successfully intervened in the planning of a New Year's Eve assault targeting a grocery store and a fast-food outlet in Mint Hill, North Carolina, culminating in the arrest of Christian Sturdivant, an 18-year-old male charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Sturdivant reportedly communicated his plans in explicit detail to an undercover FBI operative, who was engaging with him online as a confidant sympathetic to his intentions. These communications, alongside a recent search of his residence, uncovered evidence indicating that the suspected plots involved the use of bladed weapons and hammers against civilians and potentially law enforcement officers.
Authorities taking part in a post-arrest press briefing emphasized that the FBI maintained continuous surveillance on Sturdivant, especially in the days leading to the final days of 2025 and over the Christmas holiday. This precautionary monitoring was designed to mitigate any immediate threats, enabling agents to intervene promptly if the suspect attempted to carry out the planned violence with weaponry.
He was taken into custody on January 1, 2026, following which he appeared in federal court and remains detained pending further hearings, with a subsequent court date scheduled for January 7. Legal representation for Sturdivant was unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
The investigation unearthed a handwritten manifesto at Sturdivant's home, providing specific details about intended targets and victim counts at a Burger King location and an unnamed grocery store, both situated in the Mint Hill vicinity of Charlotte. The document also referenced a willingness to confront police and expressed a desire for death by law enforcement in the process.
Records indicate Sturdivant held employment at a Burger King outlet in Mint Hill, though prosecutors have not confirmed if this establishment was explicitly cited in his plans. To preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, authorities withheld further identification details concerning the targeted businesses.
According to the affidavit filed alongside his charges, the FBI's inquiry began the month prior after agents linked Sturdivant to a social media profile that promulgated content sympathetic to ISIS, employing imagery and messaging endorsing violent acts. His online alias appeared to pay homage to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of ISIS.
The affidavit further reveals that federal agents initially noticed Sturdivant in January 2022 when he was a minor, following contact with an individual in Europe suspected of ISIS affiliation. Instructions received at that time included guidance to don black clothing, seek out neighbors’ homes, and use hammers to carry out attacks. On one occasion, Sturdivant was stopped from commencing an assault with a knife and hammer by his grandfather. Although no charges were filed then, he underwent psychological intervention and was believed to have lost social media access. This changed during recent weeks when authorities noted his return to such platforms.
FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle briefed reporters about the dangerous level of commitment demonstrated by Sturdivant, noting that he appeared prepared to sacrifice his life for the attack.
The FBI's approach, involving infiltration by undercover operatives posing as terrorist sympathizers providing logistical advice and materials, has periodically drawn criticism for potential entrapment, especially targeting vulnerable individuals who might lack the capacity to act independently.
The current arrest follows a recent pattern of thwarted New Year’s Eve plots, including a Los Angeles-based case involving anti-capitalist extremists planning multi-site bombings across Southern California.
Sturdivant now faces potential penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted on charges pertaining to supporting terrorist activities.
This incident arrives exactly one year following a mass shooting in New Orleans carried out by an individual expressing ISIS support, underscoring ongoing concerns about domestic threats inspired by the terrorist group’s ideology.
Authorities continue to monitor similar threats and affirm ongoing operability of law enforcement agencies to intercept attacks before harm reaches the public.