Prosecutors detail alleged New Year’s Eve terror plot at Mint Hill grocery store

MINT HILL, N.C. — An 18-year-old accused of planning a New Year’s Eve terror attack in Mint Hill appeared in federal court Wednesday, where prosecutors laid out a detailed plan to unleash violence at a grocery store.

Christian Sturdivant was ordered held without bond as investigators described notes, weapons and online activity they say showed an intent to kill dozens of people

Sturdivant hoped to kill dozens of people using knives and hammers, agents had said. Notes found in a garbage can at his residence detailed an attack on a Mint Hill Burger King and grocery store.

Sturdivant, dressed in a jumpsuit and shackled, was in the courtroom for a short time and showed no emotion as prosecutors laid out some of their case.

Investigators found knives and hammers in the home and federal investigators said Sturdivant pledged allegiance to ISIS.

In some of his notes, he laid out his goals to kill as many people as possible before police arrived. Then, he planned to attack authorities until he was killed. His targets allegedly included Jews, Christians and members of the LGBTQ community.

The planned attack was foiled after investigators said Sturdivant made several suspicious social media posts and started communicating with an undercover NYPD officer, posing as a member of ISIS.

According to federal agents, Sturdivant said he was preparing for jihad and “martyrdom.”

‘Absolutely not’

Sturdivant’s defense attorney, Roderick Wright Jr., told Channel 9’s Hunter Sáenz that his client did not pose a threat.

“You don’t believe he had the intention to act this out?” Sáenz asked.

“Absolutely not. Absolutely not.” Wright said.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that Sturdivant told law enforcement in an interview that he wanted to attack the Mint Hill Harris Teeter because his grandfather worked there, and he wanted to kill him after he took away his PlayStation. And he stole the knives and hammers from his church and uncle’s house. He also told them he wanted to kill people since the fifth grade. Sturdivant also admitted to police that he liked ISIS, because it “gave him a since of belonging,” prosecutors said.

Sáenz also learned the suspect was on medication for depression and anxiety, which is something his attorney is worried about with him being in jail.

“It’s difficult when you’re in custody to get the medication that you need,” Wright said. “It’s difficult when you’re in custody to get any treatment that you need.”

Wright also told the judge the tactical gloves and a Kevlar vest found in Sturdivant’s room were not what prosecutors made them out to be.

“Those were workout gloves that he got from Walmart,” Wright said. “The ballistic vest with the tag that said made with Kevlar, those are Kevlar fibers sewing the jacket together, so that it’s stronger. It had nothing to do with bulletproof protection.”

Sturdivant’s defense attorney told the judge if social media posts talking about ISIS were posted by his client, they were part of an online persona, a fantasy.

The defense attorney argued that undercover law enforcement kept pressing him to go further with his ideas.

However, the judge said the evidence was chilling and too much to overcome.

The FBI had 24-hour surveillance on the suspect on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Channel 9 learned. However, surveillance started back in 2022 when the feds say Sturdivant’s grandfather was able to stop him from going out and stabbing his neighbor. Officials say they didn’t charge him before because he was a minor.

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