ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. Two St. Johns County middle school students have been arrested after an investigation uncovered homemade firearms, explosive materials and evidence of an alleged conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began on April 27 after the Sheriff’s Office and the St. Johns County School District received a report through FortifyFL, a statewide school safety reporting system, indicating two juveniles were communicating through the Telegram app about homemade weapons and explosive devices while discussing plans to commit an armed robbery.
Investigators identified the suspects as Switzerland Point Middle School students 14-year-old Julian Davis and 13-year-old Charles Williams.
Search warrants were executed at both homes, with investigators conducting multiple searches of Davis’ residence on Tivoli Drive between April 27 and April 30. The searches involved the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Bomb Squad, Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9 teams and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to investigators, authorities recovered three homemade firearms, ammunition, suspected explosive components, makeshift handcuffs, handwritten notes describing firearm construction and chemical reactions, diagrams, manifesto-style writings, a tactical vest bearing white supremacist drawings and other items of concern.
The ATF Forensic Science Laboratory later determined the seized materials included homemade black powder, erythritol tetranitrate (ETN), aluminum, sulfur, charcoal and urea nitrate. Investigators said ETN and urea nitrate are homemade secondary high explosives capable of causing significant damage.
Detectives also found an extensive internet search history on Davis’ electronic devices related to manufacturing homemade firearms and explosives, as well as research into high-profile criminal incidents.
Based on conversations between the two juveniles and the evidence recovered, detectives concluded the pair had conspired to commit an armed robbery. Investigators also believe law enforcement intervention prevented a potentially larger violent criminal incident from occurring in St. Johns County.
Davis was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm, two counts of making or possessing a destructive device firearm, three counts of making or possessing a destructive device explosive, throwing, projecting or discharging a destructive device explosive, and furnishing or attempting to furnish a firearm to a minor.
Williams was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm.
Davis is being held in the St. Johns County Jail.
Sheriff Robert Hardwick credited the FortifyFL report and the partnership between the Sheriff’s Office, the ATF and the State Attorney’s Office with preventing a potential tragedy.
Although both juveniles attended school in St. Johns County, investigators said all of the alleged criminal activity occurred off campus, and no threats were made against any St. Johns County schools. Officials said neither juvenile will be permitted to return to any district school.
The investigation remains active.