According to Texas prosecutors, Laith Adil Shehzad planned to execute a mass shooting using a Glock semi-automatic firearm equipped with standard, extended, and drum-style magazines. The government claims he was imminently preparing an attack, only to be thwarted by his rideshare service account being suspended.
Now a Harris County grand jury has indicted him under Texas’ new terrorism law.
He is accused of using Facebook to contact an individual claiming to be a confined extremist in the Philippines, seeking guidance on dying as a martyr and confirming his weapon’s suitability for a mass casualty event.
Shehzad was known to authorities and already under the supervision of the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice, having previously been charged with “Possession of Components of an Explosive Device” and retaliation.
Authorities in those cases said Shehzad was found in possession of explosive and incendiary devices and was planning on using them to kill people.
He was therefore placed under the custody of the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer.
During his time under TDJJ supervision, Shehzad was found in possession of a journal filled with extremist propaganda, explosive-making instructions, and martyrdom statements advocating the use of extreme violence.
In 2021, he reportedly confessed to the FBI his self-radicalization and adherence to ISIS ideology—a federally designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Shehzad calls himself an explosives expert according to court documents.
The FBI accused Shehzad of attempting to conceal evidence of the case by hiding his cell phone and gun when visited by the FBI.
In violation of his probation conditions blocking him from using cell phones and computers, Shehzad is accused of using multiple Facebook accounts to communicate with extremists and share ISIS propaganda.
According to prosecutors, the FBI was alerted by META of Shehzad’s concerning communications.
Shehzad is the first person charged under Texas’ 2023 terrorism law.
Prosecutors are requesting that bail be set at $10 million.
No ads. No paywalls. No government grants. No corporate masters.
Just real news for real Texans.
Support Texas Scorecard to keep it that way!
