Fortify tip leads deputies to Florida teens, homemade arsenal, white supremacy material
Two Florida middle school students are facing felony charges after investigators say they found homemade guns, explosives and evidence of an alleged armed robbery plot.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said a FortifyFL tip on April 27 reported two juveniles using Telegram to discuss homemade weapons and devices and conspire to commit an armed robbery.
Investigators identified the teens as Switzerland Point Middle School students, 14-year-old Julian Davis and 13-year-old Charles Williams.
The Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County School District safety team launched an investigation and searched both homes.
Investigators say they found: Three homemade firearms, ammunition, suspected explosive components, makeshift handcuffs, handwritten notes about building firearms and chemical reactions, diagrams, manifesto-style books, and tactical vest with white supremacy drawings.
The ATF Forensic Science Laboratory later determined suspected explosive materials contained homemade black powder, erythritol tetranitrate, aluminum, sulfur and charcoal, and urea nitrate.
Read more: CBS 12