The suspect accused of orchestrating a planned New Year’s Eve assault on a grocery store and fast-food chain in North Carolina was employed at a Burger King and concealed knives and hammers beneath his bed, even though his grandparents attempted to secure these potential weapons, according to prosecutors on Friday.

Christian Sturdivant, 18, hailing from Mint Hill, a town near Charlotte, was apprehended and charged with the attempt to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, stated Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

“What we discovered is that the grandfather took measures to secure the knives and hammers in the house, ensuring Mr. Sturdivant did not have access to them. Despite these efforts, when the search warrant was executed, the items were found hidden under his bed,” Ferguson explained during a press briefing on Friday.

Ferguson further disclosed that the planned attack was intended to occur in Mint Hill, where the suspect was employed at a Burger King.

Christian Sturdivant, the 18-year-old from Mint Hill, North Carolina, faces allegations of planning a New Year’s Eve attack in support of ISIS, as reported by the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office.

“He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die. And we were very, very fortunate they did not,” Ferguson said. “I can tell you from his notes he was targeting Jews, Christians and LGBTQ individuals.” 

James C. Barnacle, Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, said Friday that Sturdivant first caught the bureau’s attention in January 2022, when he was still a juvenile. 

Prosecutors said “law enforcement seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden-handled hammer and two butcher knives hidden underneath the defendant’s bed.” On the right is a note titled, “New Years Attack 2026,” that prosecutors said law enforcement found during a Dec. 29, 2025, search of Sturdivant’s home in Mint Hill, N.C. (United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina)

“He was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas. Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people’s doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately his family stepped in,” Barnacle continued. “No charges were filed at that time. He was referred for psychological care, and he underwent psychological care.

“Christian Sturdivant pledged his loyalty to ISIS and committed himself to commit to killing Americans on New Year’s Eve. 

“Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendant’s planned attack,” prosecutors said. (United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina)

“We do have some intelligence that he was looking at a grocery store because there would be a lot of people there. He knew there would be a lot of people there grocery shopping. … He was looking for a high-profile place,” Barnacle added. 

“There’s a couple grocery stores in Mint Hill. He wasn’t set on just one. He was looking at multiple, whichever one had the most people in it.”