{"id":32944,"date":"2026-08-08T18:08:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32944"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:08:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:08:42","slug":"florida-middle-school-students-arrested-for-making-homemade-firearms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32944","title":{"rendered":"Florida middle school students arrested for making homemade firearms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">A Florida middle school student was arrested and charged as an adult earlier this year for allegedly creating his own homemade firearms and explosives in preparation for a robbery, authorities said this week.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">The investigation into 14-year-old Julian Davis and his 13-year-old friend began on April 27, when St. Johns County sheriff\u2019s deputies received a tip that the boys had been messaging each other on Telegram about &#8220;holding someone at gunpoint&#8221; to rob them, according to an arrest report.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The alleged texts between the boys, who attended Switzerland Point Middle School, contained information about building a shotgun and musket, as well as obtaining zip ties, per the arrest report.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Sheriff Robert Hardwick and federal investigators addressed the case publicly for the first time said during a press conference on Friday. Authorities said charging Davis, who demonstrated an intense interest in <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1049919\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/mass-shootings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">school shooters<\/a>, could have prevented a &#8220;tragedy&#8221; at the middle school and the broader community.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Julian-davis.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Julian Davis\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Booking photo of Julian Davis, a 14-year-old middle school student, who authorities say was planning an armed robbery with homemade firearms.<\/span> <span>(St. Johns County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1049920\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/ukrainian-national-completed-air-force-officer-training-convicted-ghost-gun-3d-printing-operation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>UKRAINIAN NATIONAL WHO COMPLETED AIR FORCE OFFICER TRAINING CONVICTED IN GHOST GUN 3D PRINTING OPERATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Davis was arrested on April 30 and charged as an adult with multiple firearms and explosives offenses. Davis and his 13-year-old friend were both charged with conspiracy to commit a robbery with a firearm. The younger boy was not charged as an adult and is therefore not being identified by Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Between April 27 and 30, sheriff&#8217;s deputies and federal agents conducted multiple searches of Davis&#8217; home, finding three homemade firearms, ammunition, suspected explosive components and makeshift handcuffs.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Also found in Davis&#8217; home were handwritten notes depicting the construction of weapons and an apparent drawing of what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail, according to photos released by the sheriff&#8217;s department.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Searches also revealed a tactical vest with &#8220;White supremacy drawings&#8221; and a copy of the manifesto of Brenton Tarrant, a White supremacist who in 2019 went on shooting sprees at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1049921\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/crime\/mass-murder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">killing 51 people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/homemade-rifle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Homemade shotguns\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Homemade shotguns found in Davis&#8217; Florida home during a searches by sheriff&#8217;s deputies and federal agents in late April.<\/span> <span>(St. Johns County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1049922\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/san-diego-mosque-shooting-leaves-3-victims-2-teen-suspects-dead-police-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>SAN DIEGO MOSQUE SHOOTING LEAVES 3 VICTIMS, 2 TEEN SUSPECTS DEAD, POLICE SAY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Other items of concern found by authorities in Davis&#8217; home included a U.S. Army improvised munitions handbook and a copy of &#8220;The Anarchist Cookbook,&#8221; a 1971 book that contains instructions on how to make explosives, weapons and illicit drugs.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Hardwick said Davis and his friend had planned to rob someone named CJ, though investigators have been unable to determine who CJ is.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Based on this evidence, plus online searches by Davis, Hardwick said there was a &#8220;much bigger picture than just a robbery of that individual.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/shotgun-shells.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Ammunition\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Ammunition found in Davis&#8217; home during searches by law enforcement officials.<\/span> <span>(St. Johns County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1049923\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/new-video-shows-oklahoma-high-school-principal-tackling-gunman-opened-fire-inside-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>NEW VIDEO SHOWS OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TACKLING GUNMAN WHO OPENED FIRE INSIDE THE SCHOOL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Davis was using his devices in his home to research things. He had a [fixation] with people that had committed these mass school shootings, people that have gone in and done these mass stabbings,&#8221; Sheriff Hardwick said. &#8220;So, he was actually spending a lot of his time on there going through these high-profile cases. And it&#8217;s something that he actually wanted to emulate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Davis is still in custody at the St. Johns County Jail on a $240,000 bond, the sheriff said. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is scheduled to be arraigned again next month after additional charges were filed.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fox News Digital reached out to Davis&#8217; attorney for comment.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/home-made-gun-brass-knuckles.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Homemade pistol\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A photo released by the St. Johns Sheriff&#8217;s Department of a homemade pistol and brass knuckles found in Davis&#8217; home.<\/span> <span>(St. Johns County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Davis&#8217; friend, with whom he was texting about the alleged robbery, spent 21 days in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice before being released, the sheriff said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Neither of the boys will be allowed to return to their school. St. Johns County School District Deputy Superintendent Paul Abbatinozzi clarified that there was never a direct threat to Switzerland Point Middle School.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The tip about the boys&#8217; alleged activities was initially submitted to the school through FortifyFL, a platform created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting designed to identify potential threats from suspicious students.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>James Cirrone is a writer on the Breaking\/Trending News team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to james.cirrone@fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Florida middle school student was arrested and charged as an adult earlier this year for allegedly creating his own homemade firearms and explosives in preparation for a robbery, authorities said this week. The investigation into 14-year-old Julian Davis and his 13-year-old friend began on April 27,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32945,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/davis-mugshot-preview.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32944"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32944\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}