Sometimes the scariest stories are the ones that almost happen. Federal authorities announced Friday they stopped an alleged terror plot in North Carolina just hours before it was supposed to unfold on New Year's Eve. The suspect? An 18-year-old who worked at Burger King and allegedly planned to use a knife and hammer to attack customers there or at a local grocery store.
How Close This Actually Came
Christian Sturdivant, a U.S. citizen who turned 18 last month, faces federal charges for attempting to support ISIS and planning what prosecutors describe as a calculated attack on civilians. According to the FBI and Justice Department, Sturdivant intended to target either the Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR) Burger King where he was employed or a nearby grocery store, with the goal of killing as many people as possible.
Here's the chilling part: investigators say Sturdivant was literally about to walk out the door on New Year's Eve when his grandfather physically restrained him. That intervention may have been the only thing standing between a normal holiday evening and a tragedy.
FBI Director Kash Patel thanked FBI personnel and the New York Police Department on X "for acting quickly and saving lives."
A Multi-Year Investigation With Undercover Agents
This wasn't a sudden radicalization. The case stretches back to 2022, when Sturdivant was still a minor and allegedly started consuming ISIS propaganda online, visiting extremist websites, and posting concerning videos on social media. That's when law enforcement took notice.
What followed was an extensive undercover operation. Sturdivant allegedly tried to contact ISIS supporters online but instead ended up communicating with two undercover officers—one from the NYPD, another from the FBI—who he believed were genuine ISIS affiliates. According to prosecutors, he pledged allegiance to ISIS during these conversations and repeatedly expressed his desire to carry out "jihad."
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson emphasized the significance of the undercover work: "The fact that along the way in this extensive planning of this attack, he encountered not one but two undercover officers should make the public feel very, very good and very safe."
The Disturbing Details
Court records paint a troubling picture. Sturdivant allegedly wrote handwritten notes with titles like "The New Year's Attack" and "Burger King Jihad," outlining his plans in detail. The notes described wearing all black, putting on a mask in a bathroom, and then attacking civilians with knives. One document allegedly listed a target of 20 or 21 victims.
Authorities say he expressed hostility toward what he called "non-believers," Christians, and LGBTQ individuals. He told undercover agents he was "prepared for death," suggesting he expected the attack to be his last act.
What Happens Next
Sturdivant was arrested on New Year's Eve and appeared in federal court on Friday. He's facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. According to prosecutors, authorities had attempted to have him involuntarily committed for mental health treatment, but those efforts were denied. That's when they moved forward with federal terrorism charges instead.
The case raises uncomfortable questions about online radicalization, the accessibility of extremist content, and how quickly someone—especially a teenager—can go from consuming propaganda to planning violence. It also highlights the role of undercover operations in identifying and stopping threats before they materialize into actual attacks.