Texas man pleads guilty to plotting ‘mass murders’ at places like Buc-ee’s

A New Braunfels man recently pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to his plans to carry out mass shootings at several locations, including Buc-ee’s, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced in a news release Thursday.

Cameron Derrick Peterson, 20, began planning the shooting in November 2022, according to court documents. The release described the plans as “mass murder attacks thwarted by federal and local law enforcement.”

Peterson tried to purchase a gun at a New Braunfels pawn shop in January and passed a background check, but was denied due to his age and the type of gun, the release said. In May, he again tried to buy a gun from the store, but was refused a second time.

FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant for Peterson in early June, and he was immediately taken into custody by the New Braunfels Police Department.

A law enforcement review of Peterson’s Instagram account showed him making statements about plans to attack a gas station, identified in court documents as Buc-ee’s on I-35, and was recorded instructing a witness to hide or destroy from jail he made a video of himself observing a grocery store to plan an upcoming attack.

During a search of Peterson’s home, law enforcement found a long rifle with a sawed-off stock, six 60-round magazines and a box containing 11 aerosol cans and other ingredients for making destructive devices, the report said.

“One of the containers was determined to be easily detonated and was classified as an improvised explosive device,” the statement said. “The IED was not registered on the National Firearms Registry and could not be related to Peterson’s age.”

A judge is scheduled to sentence Peterson in February on one count of attempting to obtain a firearm with the intent to use it in the commission of a felony. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.