The federal government has indicted an Arizona man who plotted to stage a mass shooting at a Bad Bunny concert in Atlanta.
Mark Adams Prieto, 58, was indicted earlier this week after he was arrested last month over the alleged plot. Prieto allegedly hoped to spark a race war ahead of the presidential election.
He was charged with Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Firearms Trafficking, and Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Hate Crime. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.
Prieto allegedly brought semi-automatic rifles using cash or trades to avoid federal gun regulators.
A source Prieto attempted to recruit to his plot notified the FBI. Their investigation used an undercover agent that Prieto also attempted to enlist, according to an affidavit obtained by NBC News.
“Prieto believes that martial law will be implemented shortly after the 2024 election and that a mass shooting should occur prior,” the source told the FBI Phoenix, according to the affidavit, adding that he was “ready to kill a bunch of people.”
Prieto allegedly stashed guns near the concert before traveling to carry out the shooting.
