A teenager from suburban North Carolina was arrested just hours before he allegedly planned to carry out a brutal ISIS-inspired attack on American soil.
According to CNN, Federal authorities disrupted what they are calling a highly detailed terror plot by 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who allegedly planned to attack civilians on New Year's Eve using knives and hammers in the name of jihad.
Sturdivant, a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody on December 31, 2025, as he was being released from a medical facility in the Charlotte-area town of Mint Hill, capping off an investigation that reactivated just two weeks prior when the teen resurfaced with pro-terror content online.
Suspect Targeted Civilians and Law Enforcement
Investigators say Sturdivant had been communicating with someone he thought was a member of ISIS. In reality, it was an NYPD undercover officer. The teen reportedly laid out detailed plans to attack a grocery store and fast-food restaurant, targeting Jewish, Christian, and LGBTQ people.
When authorities searched his home, they found weapons stashed under his bed and a disturbing manifesto titled “New Years Attack 2026.” Inside, the teenager wrote out his objectives, including stabbing civilians and engaging police in hopes of being martyred during the chaos. The plan had all the hallmarks of a radical jihadi strategy, except it was hatched by an American teenager in his own backyard. Sadly, this wasn’t even Sturdivant’s first contact with ISIS-linked extremists.
History of Extremist Contact and Missed Warnings
Federal agents noted that as far back as January 2022, when Sturdivant was only 14, he had been in online contact with an overseas ISIS member. That individual reportedly encouraged him to dress in black, knock on doors, and attack innocent people using a hammer.
Sturdivant allegedly attempted to act on that advice until a family member intervened. Authorities at that time did not file charges, citing his age, and instead referred him for psychological treatment. His access to social platforms was reportedly disabled, though clearly not for good. Fast forward to December 2025, just a week before Christmas, when the FBI took renewed interest in Sturdivant. He had re-emerged online under a new alias, using TikTok to promote ISIS propaganda once again.
FBI and DOJ Prevent Deadly Attack
That sparked a rapid two-week investigation led by the FBI in coordination with undercover NYPD units. The result: a timely arrest before any blood was shed. Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced the charges during a joint press conference with the FBI on January 2, 2026. “Sturdivant was preparing for Jihad and innocent people were going to die, and we were very, very fortunate they did not,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson emphasized that the attack wasn’t tied to any specific celebration, simply scheduled for maximum impact. As chilling as that is, it’s even more disturbing to consider that this was just one of multiple New Year’s-related terror plots disrupted across the country this season.
This Was Not an Isolated Incident
Authorities noted that at least four others were arrested in connection with a separate bomb plot in Los Angeles, also intended for New Year’s Eve. The word “coincidence” starts to wear thin when jihadist activity spikes on Western holidays.
In court-recorded conversations with undercover agents, Sturdivant is said to have pledged, “I’m going to do jihad soon.” Those weren’t idle words. His home was a warroom, complete with attack maps and handwritten instructions on how to ambush responding officers as part of what he called a “martyrdom op.” The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, James C. Barnacle Jr., said, “We first became aware of Sturdivant in January 2022 when he was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas.”
Legal Process Now Underway
Sturdivant made his initial court appearance on January 2, 2026. He’s currently being held in Gaston County Jail under federal detention as he awaits his next hearing on January 7. He faces a charge of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a federal offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted. And while the law will take its course, there are broader questions the country must face. This case reveals a troubling intersection of radical ideology, juvenile vulnerabilities, and social media exposure. But it also exposes what happens when early signs of extremism are smoothed over in the name of psychological treatment, not tough evaluation.
A Cautionary Failure of Intervention
The system had an early chance nearly four years ago to stop this young man from heading down a dark path, but instead opted for therapy over accountability. That might be forgivable — if it had worked. When someone is already attacking others with hammers at the age of 14, wishful thinking doesn’t fix it. The FBI and DOJ deserve credit for acting swiftly this time, but the red flags were waving for years.
It's a grim reminder that evil doesn’t always wear a foreign face. Sometimes it’s hiding in the suburbs, scrolling TikTok, and waiting for the right moment to strike. Luckily, this time, it didn’t.
