18-year-old Charged in ISIS-Linked Mint Hill Plot
18-year-old Christian Sturdivant is charged with attempting to support ISIS. FBI searches uncovered weapons and a 'New Years Attack 2026' note tied to Mint Hill.
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Overview
The suspect, 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, faces federal charges for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to the Justice Department.
An FBI search on December 29, 2025 recovered concealed weapons under his bed—including hammers and knives—and planning notes linked to an ISIS attack scheme.
Investigators recovered a handwritten note titled 'New Years Attack 2026' outlining intentions to stab many people and assault responding officers.
Sturdivant was arrested around New Year’s Eve and remains in federal custody after a Friday court appearance, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities say the FBI had previously tracked a 14-year-old named Sturdivant in 2022 for ISIS-related communications, including instructions to dress in black and attack with a hammer.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources: Neutral reporting. The coverage relies on official statements from the FBI and U.S. Attorney, court filings, and the timeline of events, presenting details without editorial judgments or sensational framing. It foregrounds procedural context and facts (charges, weapon findings, dates) rather than speculation or value-laden language.
FAQ
The FBI search on December 29, 2025, recovered hammers, butcher knives, a tactical vest, gloves, and a handwritten note titled 'New Years Attack 2026' detailing plans to stab 20-21 people at a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill, attack responding officers, and achieve martyrdom.
In January 2022, at age 14, Sturdivant was monitored by the FBI after contacting a suspected ISIS member in Europe, receiving instructions to dress in black and commit hammer attacks; his grandfather intervened to prevent an attack on neighbors, no charges were filed, and monitoring ceased after he lost social media access and entered mental health treatment.
Sturdivant planned a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve at a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in Mint Hill, using hammers and knives to stab 20-21 victims, then assault responding officers for martyrdom; he aspired to acquire firearms.
Sturdivant was arrested on December 31, 2025, without incident, appeared in court on Friday, and remains in federal custody; he faces federal charges for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.
