A man has been arrested after trying to destroy a power grid in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Columbia University man is accused of trying to use a drone to demolish a Nashville power plant.

Federal agents announced the arrest Monday when Skyler Filippi was allegedly in the back of a vehicle and set off a drone with an explosive device next to the drone. Philippi is charged with an attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction and an attempt to destroy an energy facility. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Driven by a racially motivated extremist ideology, the defendant allegedly planned to attack the power grid with a drone and explosives, leaving thousands of Americans and critical infrastructure like hospitals without power,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The swift work of the FBI led to the discovery and disruption of the defendant’s plot before it could do any harm. We are committed to prosecuting anyone who threatens or plans to harm critical infrastructure or seeks to harm American communities through domestic violent extremism.”

Authorities said he began planning the attack in September with undercover FBI agents at an electrical substation to conduct research. Authorities said Philippi purchased black powder for pipe bombs and C-4 explosives.

“If you want to do the most damage as an accelerator, attack the high economic, political and tax zones in every major metropolis,” Filippi told the confidential informant.

Referring to the substation, Filippi later said, “Oh my God! It’s going to go up like a fucking Fourth of July firework.”

Beginning in June 2024, federal authorities said Filippi told a confidential human source of his desire to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA located in or around Columbia. In July 2024, Filippi told another confidential informant about the effects of an attack on major interstate substations and said that an attack on several substations would “crash the system” causing other substations to fail.

“According to the indictment, Skyler Filippi believed he was moments away from attacking a Nashville energy facility to advance his violent ideology of white supremacy, but the FBI had already compromised his plot,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case is yet another warning to those who seek to sow violence and mayhem in the name of hate by attacking our nation’s critical infrastructure: The Department of Justice will find you, we will disrupt your plot, and we will bring you to justice. I am grateful to the public servants of the FBI for their extraordinary work on this case and for the work they do every day to keep our country safe.”

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A road trip to see some of our neighbors’ best Halloween decorations

Americans are expected to spend about $12 billion on candy, costumes and decorations this year. Over the past few years, it seems like a lot more people are going to great lengths to decorate their homes. Forrest Sanders had the opportunity to visit several midstate communities to check out some of those Halloween decorations.

-Lelan Statom