A follower not a leader. Update to this previous story.
Suspected ISIS supporter Justin Sullivan murdered and robbed an elderly neighbor then planned to use the stolen money to buy an assault-style rifle to commit mass murder, a new federal indictment says.
Sullivan, 19, was arrested last June after plotting to kill up to 1,000 people in support of ISIS, an Islamic terrorist organization. A newly unsealed federal indictment against the Morganton teen now links him directly to the previously unsolved 2014 murder of John Bailey Clark, 74, a neighbor of Sullivan and his parents on Rose Carswell Road.
Clark was found in a shallow grave near his home. The indictment says Sullivan stole a gun from his stepfather, broke into his elderly neighbor’s home and shot him three times in the head in December 2014.
“Justin Sullivan had elaborate plans to kill hundreds of innocent people to show his support for the terrorist organization, ISIL,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge John Strong. “During the course of our investigation evidence was uncovered linking Sullivan to John Bailey Clark’s murder six months earlier.”
Clark’s murder came after Sullivan had converted to Islam and began watching beheadings and other violent ISIS acts on the Internet, according to documents. Around that same time, ISIS sent out a worldwide call for attacks against citizens and soldiers of any country involved in the U.S.-led coalition targeting the Islamic group.
Federal authorities started investigating Sullivan after a 911 call in April 2015 from his parents who said the teen was pouring gasoline over their religious items. “I don’t know if it’s ISIS or what, but he is destroying Buddhas and figurines and stuff,” his stepfather said, according to earlier documents. “We’re afraid to leave the house.”
The investigation included using an undercover officer to connect with Sullivan and learn about his intent.
According to the new document, Sullivan referred to himself as “The Mujahid,” or a guerrilla warrior in defense of Allah and Islam.
HT: TAH