New Braunfel Man’s Planned Mass Murder Attacks Foiled: US Atty

SAN ANTONIO – A New Braunfels The man’s planned mass murder attacks were foiled by local and federal law enforcement, the US attorney’s office says.

Cameron Darrick Peterson, 20, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempting to obtain a firearm to use in the commission of a felony.

According to court documents, Peterson began planning mass shootings in November 2022. In January, he tried to buy 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. In May, he tried to buy a 12-gauge assault rifle from the pawn shop and was turned down a second time.

After he was refused a second time, FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant and Peterson was immediately taken into custody by New Braunfels police. During a search of his home, FBI agents found and seized a modified .22-caliber long rifle with a sawed-off stock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds.

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Agents also reviewed Peterson’s Instagram account, revealing statements he had made about plans to attack a gas station. That same day, Peterson was recorded from jail instructing a witness to hide or destroy a videotape he made of himself surveilling a grocery store to plan a future attack.

A few days later, another search of Peterson’s home turned up a box containing 11 aerosol cans and other ingredients for making destructive devices.

One of them was classified as an improvised explosive device (IED) because it was determined that it could be “operationally facilitated,” the US attorney’s office says. 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 and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.