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A North Carolina man, Christian Sturdivant, aged 18, from Mint Hill, has been charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically Daesh. The charges stem from a plot he allegedly planned for nearly a year, intending to carry out a knife and hammer attack on New Year’s Eve.
Sturdivant has not yet entered a plea. He was detained this past Wednesday, on New Year’s Eve, and appeared in court on Friday. According to federal prosecutors, he had pledged allegiance to Daesh and aimed to target a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant in his hometown.
During a search of his residence, FBI agents discovered a handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026,” outlining plans to stab up to 20 victims and attack responding police officers. Agents also seized hammers and knives from his bedroom.
For months, Sturdivant had been communicating online with two undercover agents from the FBI and New York Police Department, whom he believed were affiliated with Daesh. In December, he shared photos of two hammers and a knife and discussed his plans for an upcoming attack.
His initial contact with law enforcement occurred in 2022 when, as a juvenile, he communicated with an unidentified Daesh member overseas and made attempts to plan an attack with a hammer. He was not charged at that time but was instead referred for psychological treatment.
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