Florida middle schooler allegedly had homemade firearms in robbery plot: Sheriff
A Florida middle schooler faces multiple charges after authorities say he had homemade firearms and explosive devices in his bedroom and conspired with a friend to commit a robbery.
The investigation began in late April, when authorities say the St. Johns County School District received a tip about two middle school students engaging in a "threatening text conversation" about homemade weapons and a plan to rob someone, according to an incident report.
The two teens -- Switzerland Point Middle School students -- were subsequently arrested as part of a "complex" investigation, authorities said.
One of the teens, 14-year-old Julian Davis, has been charged as an adult with multiple firearms and explosives offenses, authorities said. He and his 13-year-old friend were also both charged with conspiracy to commit a robbery with a firearm.
Local and federal authorities publicly discussed the case for the first time on Friday, with St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick saying he believes they "prevented a tragedy."
"This is a heinous and atrocious case. We want to make sure these two individuals are held accountable," Hardwick said during a press briefing.
According to an arrest report, the tip included video of an April 16 conversation between the two teens on the app Telegram in which they allegedly plotted to rob someone at gunpoint and split the proceeds.
"Also in the text conversation were several pictures and videos depicting ammunition, pipe components, zip ties, and a clear bottle containing an unknown yellow liquid wrapped in duct tape with an apparent fuse affixed to the side," the report stated.
The alleged plan was to rob the unknown individual behind a grocery store, according to authorities.
During a search of Davis' home, authorities said they found three homemade firearms, ammunition and zip-ties constructed into handcuffs, according to the arrest report. Two of the seized firearms, both shotguns, successfully expelled a projectile during a functionality test, while the third -- a pistol -- did not, according to an incident report.
The search of Davis' home also found other "items of concern," including suspected explosive components, handwritten notes depicting the construction of firearms and a tactical vest with white supremacy drawings, Hardwick said. Other items "indicative of white supremacy ideology" in the teen's room included the book "The Great Replacement," according to the incident report.
Digital forensics research going back two years indicated Davis was allegedly "obsessed" with mass shootings and stabbings, Hardwick said.
"This is a much bigger picture than just a robbery of that individual," the sheriff said.
Davis remains in custody, the sheriff said. The teen previously pleaded not guilty to initial charges in the case and is set to be arraigned again next month following the filing this week of additional charges. ABC News has reached out to his attorney for comment.
The 13-year-old suspect spent 21 days in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and has since been released, Hardwick said. The sheriff's office has identified the teen, though ABC News is not publishing his name because he has not been charged as an adult. Attorney information for the teen was not immediately available.
Neither teen is permitted to return to the school district, and there was no direct threat to the Switzerland Point Middle School, St. Johns County School District Deputy Superintendent Paul Abbatinozzi said Friday.
The tip was submitted through FortifyFL, a platform geared toward anonymously reporting suspicious activity and potential threats involving juveniles that was created in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
