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FBI thwarts deadly plot targeting Buc-ee’s, local high schools, suspect pleads guilty
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FBI thwarts deadly plot targeting Buc-ee’s, local high schools, suspect pleads guilty

A plot to attack Buc-ees on I-35 and two New Braunfels High Schools was foiled by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Cameron Darrick Peterson, who planned the attack, pleaded guilty yesterday to one of three charges against him.

My investigation led us to details not included in the press release sent out by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Peterson allegedly began planning the mass shootings in November 2022. In January of this year, he tried to buy a 12-gauge shotgun from Comal Pawn but was rejected due to the type and age of the gun.

Meanwhile, Peterson continued planning his attack on Buc-ee’s and the two High Schools.

A video recorded in the woods of a New Braunfels park shows him discussing the attack with his girlfriend.

The purpose of the attack on Buc-ees was to create a distraction.

Peterson would later attend two high schools, Canyon High School and the other New Braunfels High School.

Sources tell us Peterson was once a student at Canyon High School. People familiar with the plea agreement made in court on Wednesday said Peterson had a fully constructed Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and the materials needed to create an additional ten IEDs.

Peterson’s alleged plan was to carry out mass shootings in 2026 or earlier. However, authorities believe his plan changed after he tried to buy a gun in January and was rejected, and he may have been plotting to put the plan into action sooner.

He tried to buy a gun a second time in May, but was flagged for false claims on his ATF federal form when he tried to buy the gun in January.

Federal sources say extra precautions were taken at both high schools during this year’s graduations because Peterson had not yet been arrested. He was detained on June 5.

If the judge signs the plea agreement at sentencing, Peterson could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison instead of facing 20 life sentences if he goes to trial and is found guilty of the three charges originally filed against him. The sentence is planned to be handed down at the beginning of next year.

We called both Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD for comment. Comal ISD said they did not want to comment on the Peterson case.