A New Braunfels, Texas, man 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, in connection with a planned attack on a gas station and a high school, foiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, said.
Cameron Darrick Peterson, 20, targeted the Buc-ee’s location in New Braunfels, along with Canyon Lake High School in Canyon Lake, Texas, according to a report by NBC 15.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, confirmed for CSP that Buc-ee’s was the retail target. Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee’s did not immediately respond to a CSP request for comment.
The U.S. Attorney's office did not provide a motive for the planned attack.
Peterson had been planning mass shootings since November 2022, according to court documents. On Jan. 4, 2024, Peterson attempted to purchase a 12-gauge shotgun from a New Braunfels pawn shop. He completed the required background check and was denied due to his age and the type of firearm he was attempting to purchase. On May 31, he attempted to purchase an assault weapon-style 12-gauge shotgun from the pawn shop and was denied a second time.
FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant on June 5, and Peterson was immediately taken into custody by the New Braunfels Police Department. During a search of his home, FBI agents found and seized an altered .22-caliber long rifle with a sawed-off buttstock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds.
On June 6, as part of a federal search warrant, agents reviewed Peterson’s Instagram account, revealing statements Peterson had made about plans to attack a gas station. Also on June 6, Peterson was recorded from jail instructing a witness to hide or destroy a videotape he had made in which he surveilled a grocery store to plan a future attack.
On June 10, another search of Peterson’s home revealed a box that contained 11 aerosol containers and other ingredients to manufacture destructive devices. One of the containers was determined that it could be readily made operational and was categorized as an Improvised Explosive Device. The IED was not registered in the National Firearms Registry, nor could it be due to Peterson’s age.
Peterson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, San Antonio Fire Department, New Braunfels Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Eric Yuen are prosecuting the case.
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