A 20-year-old man from New Braunfels, Texas, has pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio to one count of attempting to receive a firearm to use to commit a felony.
The investigation was spurred by an anonymous tipster who reported Peterson had “severe emotional issues, idolizes violence and school shootings, and that he may emulate infamous prior mass shooters” and had allegedly told an ex-girlfriend of his plans and fantasies of a school shooting, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.
According to court documents, Peterson began planning mass shootings as early as November 2022. On Jan. 4, he attempted to purchase a 12-gauge shotgun from a pawn shop in New Braunfels.
He completed the required background check but was denied the purchase due to his age and the specific type of firearm he sought. Peterson then made a second attempt on May 31 to buy an assault weapon-style 12-gauge shotgun from the same pawn shop but was denied once again.
FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant on June 5, and Peterson was taken into custody by the New Braunfels Police Department. He was originally charged with one count of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.
During a search of his residence, agents discovered an altered .22 caliber long rifle with a sawed-off buttstock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint.
The investigation intensified on June 6 when agents executed a federal search warrant to review Peterson’s Instagram account.
They uncovered statements he had made about plans to attack a gas station. Additionally, while in jail on the same day, Peterson was recorded instructing a witness to hide or destroy a videotape he had made, which showed him surveilling a grocery store to plan a future attack.
Further discoveries were made on June 10 during another search of Peterson’s home. Agents found a box containing 11 aerosol containers and other ingredients used to manufacture explosive devices.
One of the containers was determined to be readily operational and was classified as an improvised explosive device (IED). The IED was not registered in the National Firearms Registry, and due to Peterson’s age, it could not have been legally registered.
Peterson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the San Antonio Fire Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
