A Florida middle school gun plot has led to adult charges for a 14-year-old student accused of building homemade firearms and explosives while planning a robbery with a younger classmate. Deputies in St. Johns County say the case began with a tip on April 27 and quickly widened into a search that uncovered weapons, explosive materials, and writings tied to violent extremists.
Authorities identified the teen as Julian Davis, a student at Switzerland Point Middle School. According to the arrest report, investigators say Davis and his 13-year-old friend exchanged messages on Telegram about holding someone at gunpoint in order to rob them. The alleged conversations reportedly included discussion of how to build a shotgun and a musket, along with obtaining zip ties. Sheriff Robert Hardwick said Davis was arrested on April 30 and charged as an adult on multiple firearms and explosives counts. Davis and the younger boy were both charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm.
At a press conference on Friday, Hardwick and federal investigators described the case publicly for the first time. Hardwick said the investigation suggested more than a simple robbery plan and argued that charging Davis may have helped prevent a tragedy at the school and in the surrounding community. He said investigators believed Davis had a deep interest in school shooters and other violent attackers. In Hardwick’s words, Davis spent time researching high-profile cases and appeared to want to emulate them. Davis has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to be arraigned again next month after additional charges were filed.
Searches of Davis’ home between April 27 and 30 turned up three homemade firearms, ammunition, suspected explosive components, and makeshift handcuffs, according to authorities. Deputies also said they found handwritten notes showing weapon construction, a drawing that appeared to depict a Molotov cocktail, a tactical vest with white supremacy drawings, and a copy of the manifesto of Brenton Tarrant, the white supremacist who killed 51 people in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019. Investigators also said they found a U.S. Army improvised munitions handbook and a copy of The Anarchist Cookbook, a 1971 book known for instructions on making explosives and weapons.
