An investigation into a 14-year-old boy planning to conduct a mass shooting revealed his connection to a separate child pornography investigation, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received a tip that the teenager had access to weapons and was planning a mass shooting at a church near his Wimauma home.
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Chad Chronister explained the teen discussed his plan for the shooting in an online chatroom designated for “violent extremists.” He described it as a neo-Nazi, satanic group called “Temple of Love.”
“This case is a dangerous intersection between individuals that engage in online activity and the real-life threat that it poses,” he said.
Through investigative means, detectives discovered the 14-year-old was possibly connected to an active HCSO child pornography investigation.
After conducting a search warrant at his home, officials reported finding multiple firearms, ammunition and electronic devices with child sexual abuse material on them.
The sheriff said the child pornographic material found was 14 pieces of “extremely graphic” images of people inflicting violence on infants and toddlers.
“Images too graphic to discuss because it would keep you up at night,” he said.
Hellbound and Down 