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Channel 9 speaks to Justin Sullivan's attorney about mindset, ISIS relationship

By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com
By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Justin Sullivan is serving two life sentences, one for brutally murdering his neighbor and another for plotting to kill 1,000 people.

An attorney who defended Sullivan spoke exclusively with Channel 9 anchor Allison Latos, revealing more about his state of mind and his relationship with ISIS.

In 2014, Sullivan put on a ski mask and stole his father's rifle to kill his elderly neighbor John Clark inside Clark's Burke County home.

Investigators said it was practice for Sullivan's bigger plans of an ISIS-style attack on 1,000 people.

Vicki Jayne, who defended Sullivan in the murder case, still remembers her first impressions of him.

“He was obviously nervous and shaken, very polite, very soft spoken, so much more naive that most 18-year-old young men,” Jayne said.

Jayne said Sullivan struggled to make friends, so he searched the internet for belonging and purpose, and that along the way, his exploration of Islam turned into extremism.

"There were advertisements that came up from ISIS and Justin started watching those videos," Jayne said.

Then, Sullivan began reaching out to terrorists overseas.

Court documents revealed his text messages with a top ISIS recruiter in Syria, Junaid Hussain.

Sullivan, nicknamed "TheMujahid" wrote, "Very soon carrying out 1st operation of Islamic State in North America."

Hussain replied in Arabic, "God willing my brother."

In 2015, an American airstrike in Syria killed Hussain.

When Sullivan learned of the news, Jayne said she was with him.

Jayne said Sullivan was visibly shaken because Sullivan saw the ISIS leader as a partner and even friend.

“Telling him he was doing the right thing and what a wonderful soldier he was and that God was pleased with him had become so much of Justin's makeup,” Jayne said. “That was upsetting to him.”

Prosecutors said Sullivan dreamed of creating a new branch of the Islamic State in North America.

"He planned to attack a concert or a club, places that we would call soft targets,” U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose said.

Latos asked Jayne if Sullivan was still brainwashed.

(WEB EXTRA: Attorney Vicki Jayne talks about Justin Sullivan's relationship with ISIS, mentality)

“I think he is still suffering from, yes the indoctrination, there's been no deprogramming,” Jayne said.

Jayne said, to this day, Sullivan has no remorse and that he doesn't see a difference between Islam and extremism.

Latos asked Jayne if she thinks he would have murdered hundreds of people.

“Well, Justin says he would have never done that,” Jayne said. “But do I think law enforcement did their jobs? Yes I do. I think they may have saved Justin from himself.”

Prosecutors said Sullivan willingly turned against the United States and that his life sentence should send a message.

His attorney said Sullivan's parents still visit and support him even though he wanted to kill them for interfering with his plot.

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