A tactical vest of a 14-year-old boy arrested while building an arsenal of homemade weaponry had messages scrawled or drawn that were reminiscent to 2023’s rifle used in a racially motivated attack at a Jacksonville Dollar General store. He and that shooter, 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter, also both ideologized Adolf Hitler and Brenton Tarrant, among other notorious white supremacists and extremists.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 7 announced the arrests of the boy and a 13-year-old friend in a lengthy joint investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, State Attorney’s Office and school district. The Switzerland Point Middle School boys were arrested on April 30 and June 29.
The 14-year-old believed-to-be ringleader remains in jail in lieu of $240,000 bail on charges of 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. He is charged as an adult.
The 13-year-old is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm. He served 21 days with the Department of Juvenile Justice and has been released. Due to their ages and no one being harmed, the Times-Union is not naming them. However, authorities say there were likely ill intentions for something tragic.
Sheriff Robert Hardwick said the 14-year-old was obsessed with mass shootings and killers and aspired to be like them. He researched school shootings, white supremacists, hate-filled manifestos and how to make weapons and explosive devices among other unsettling topics.
Although a 104-page incident report doesn’t appear to include any references to Palmeter, who slaughtered three Black victims with the intention of killing more before taking his own life as SWAT infiltrated the Dollar General, a black ballistic-type of vest taken as evidence from the 14-year-old’s bedroom has eerie similarities.
While swastikas, racial slurs and white nationalist markings were scrawled in white on Palmeter’s assault-style rifle much like Tarrant’s, the 14-year-old had the following also in white on his black vest:
‘The Great Replacement’ and Brenton Tarrant
The teen’s girlfriend told investigators he supported Hitler’s ideology and “making a world for it to reset.”
In addition, investigators discovered multiple computer searches and downloads from his phone involving Tarrant. A physical copy of “The Great Replacement,” a manifesto-style book discussing author Tarrant’s views on the Great Replacement Theory and immigration, also was found in his room.
The final paragraph in the book reads, “As for me, my time has come. I cannot guarantee my success. All I know is the certainty of my will and the necessity of my cause. Live or die, I know I did it all for you; my friends, my family, my people, my culture, my RACE. Goodbye, god bless you all and I will se you in Valhalla.”
Similarly in Palmeter’s 27-page hate-filled manifesto, he wrote: “Brenton Tarrant: Main inspiration for my methods (hope you MSM hacks like the schizoid ramblings on my gun :3) and targets. Tarrant took the fight to his invaders, and I will take the fight to mine. If you ever see this, Brenton, your vindication is finally here. The time you have predicted is fast approaching.”
Scott Butler has been an editor/reporter specializing in public safety coverage for 26 years with The Florida Times-Union. He can be reached at sbutler@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 14-year-old arrested with destructive devices followed Hitler, Tarrant
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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By Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
