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A chilling revelation from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has unveiled a disturbing plan orchestrated by a 14-year-old boy in Wimauma, Florida. Authorities uncovered his intention to carry out a mass shooting, a plan he had openly discussed in a sinister online chatroom frequented by “violent extremists,” according to Sheriff Chad Chronister.
The investigation took an even darker turn with the discovery of the teen’s involvement in a separate child pornography case. This unsettling connection came to light during a news conference led by Sheriff Chronister, who detailed the boy’s alarming online activities.
According to deputies, a critical tip-off alerted them to the teenager’s access to firearms and his intention to target a local church near his residence. In a digital space described by Chronister as a neo-Nazi and satanic group, ominously named the “Temple of Love,” the boy allegedly laid out his violent plans.
“This case starkly highlights the perilous overlap between online conduct and tangible threats to public safety,” emphasized Sheriff Chronister. The situation underscores the urgent need for vigilance against the dangers posed by such extremist ideologies infiltrating the digital realm.
“This case is a dangerous intersection between individuals that engage in online activity and the real-life threat that it poses,” he said.
Through investigative means, detectives discovered the 14-year-old was possibly connected to an active HCSO child pornography investigation.
After conducting a search warrant at his home, officials reported finding multiple firearms, ammunition and electronic devices with child sexual abuse material on them.
The sheriff said the child pornographic material found was 14 pieces of “extremely graphic” images of people inflicting violence on infants and toddlers.
“Images too graphic to discuss because it would keep you up at night,” he said.
The teenager was arrested on Jan. 31 and is charged with:
- Written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism
- In-state transmission of child pornography by electronic device
- 14 counts of solicitation or possession of child pornography, 10 or more images and content of images
- Two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device
Chronister said more charges are pending. He also explained deputies will to churches nearby the teen’s home.
“The age of the individual involved does not lessen the seriousness of these crimes,” Chronister said in a statement. “Threats of mass violence and the exploitation of children demand immediate action, and we will always move swiftly to protect lives and hold those responsible accountable.”
While the 14-year-old is being charged as a juvenile, Chronister said he is working with the State Attorney’s Office to see if he could be charged as an adult.
10 Tampa Bay News is not identifying the teenager due to his age.