Federal Prosecutors Say Suspect Planned Mass Stabbing & Bludgeoning Attacks At Everyday Civilian Locations Before Seeking Death By Police

Friday, January 2, 2026, 2:00 P.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, & Art Fletcher, Executive Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLOTTE, NC.- Federal authorities have charged Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, in connection with an ISIS-inspired terror plot aimed at grocery stores and restaurants in the Charlotte metropolitan area, following a federal undercover investigation that uncovered explicit plans for mass-casualty violence.

     U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson confirmed that federal investigators executed a search warrant at Sturdivant’s Mint Hill home on Monday, December 29, 2025, uncovering evidence that prosecutors say corroborated his stated plans for violence.

     Sturdivant was formally taken into federal custody on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, after investigators concluded the threat was credible and imminent ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

     He has been federally charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, according to charging documents reviewed by Englebrook Independent News.

     The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a Joint Terrorism Task Force operation focused on domestic radicalization and lone-actor extremist threats.

Explicit Plans To Attack Grocery Stores And Restaurants;

     According to the federal criminal complaint obtained by Englebrook Independent News, Sturdivant engaged in extended online communications with an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed shared extremist ideology.

During those conversations, prosecutors allege Sturdivant:

• Expressed admiration for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
• Declared allegiance to the ISIS ideology
• Stated his intent to attack grocery stores and restaurants in the Charlotte area
• Described plans to stab and beat civilians with knives and hammers
• Claimed he intended to kill 20 to 21 people
• Said he expected to be “martyred” by police, anticipating he would be shot and killed by law enforcement following the attacks

     Prosecutors allege Sturdivant deliberately selected grocery stores and restaurants because they are routine civilian locations with predictable foot traffic, making them particularly vulnerable to surprise attacks.

Charlotte-Area Target Selection;

     Court records indicate Sturdivant did not fixate on a single business but instead discussed multiple potential grocery stores and restaurants across the Charlotte metropolitan region.

The complaint alleges he evaluated:

• Busy grocery stores frequented by families and workers
• Restaurants and dining establishments with enclosed or limited-exit spaces
• Locations where civilians would have little warning or ability to escape

     Authorities stressed that no specific business was breached or placed under physical surveillance, and that the plot was disrupted before any operational steps were taken.

Weapons Recovered During December 29, 2025, Search;

     During the December 29, 2025, execution of the search warrant at Sturdivant’s Mint Hill residence, federal investigators recovered multiple knives and hammers hidden beneath his bed, according to the criminal complaint.

     Prosecutors say the weapons directly matched the methods Sturdivant repeatedly described in conversations with the undercover agent, serving as physical corroboration of his intent.

     Investigators cited the discovery as a critical factor in determining that the threat was credible, escalating, and capable of being carried out.

Federal Custody On December 31 Prevented New Year’s Eve Violence;

     Following analysis of the evidence seized during the search, Sturdivant was formally taken into federal custody on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, days before New Year’s Eve gatherings were set to begin across the Charlotte area.

     Authorities emphasized that the timing of the custody decision was driven by:

• Explicit threats of mass violence
• Stated casualty goals
• Expressed a desire to die during the attack
• Physical weapons recovered during the search

     “This investigation prevented a potential attack on everyday community spaces,” Ferguson said. “The actions taken here likely saved lives.”

Federal Charge And Potential Penalties;

     Sturdivant is charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a serious federal offense that carries significant prison time if convicted.

     Prosecutors are expected to seek continued detention, pending trial, citing the severity of the charge and the nature of the alleged plot.

No Known Accomplices, Investigation Ongoing;

     At this time, authorities say there is no confirmed evidence of additional co-conspirators, though investigators continue reviewing digital devices, communications, and online contacts.

     An FBI official familiar with the case said the investigation remains active.

     “This case reflects the continued danger posed by lone-actor extremists targeting ordinary civilian locations,” the official said.

Public Safety Assurance;

     Federal and local officials emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public and that New Year’s Eve events across the Charlotte region concluded without incident.

     U.S. intelligence agencies continue to warn that ISIS-inspired lone-actor plots remain one of the most persistent terrorism threats in the United States.

Court Proceedings;

     Sturdivant has made an initial appearance in federal court and was ordered to remain in federal custody pending future court proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the  Western District of North Carolina.

Editor’s Note:

Englebrook Independent News has reviewed and received the federal criminal complaint and charging information filed in this case. All reporting above is based on court records, statements from federal prosecutors, and confirmed law enforcement sources. This article was written by Jennifer Hodges & Edited by Art Fletcher, Englebrook Independent News.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”