18-year-old Gunner Joseph Fisher from Big Rock, Tennessee, has now been arrested on charges connected to an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting.
According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Christopher R. Potts, Fisher, who held extremist racist and violent ideologies, had reportedly been planning such an attack for several years.
Fisher was taken into custody in late December after Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram, alerted authorities to concerning messages on his account. The messages revealed that Fisher was planning a mass shooting and had stockpiled weapons and ammunition.
Investigators discovered that Fisher had posted alarming content online, expressing hatred toward specific racial and religious groups, including Jews, African Americans, and Muslims. His posts often included admiration for mass shooters, images of himself with firearms and tactical gear, and explicit threats.
One of his posts stated:
“My entire school is gonna be wiped off the face of this EARTH.”
He also discussed possible targets, such as his school and a Nashville mosque, drawing inspiration from Brenton Tarrant, the gunman behind the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand.
Fisher’s online activity included communications with an unidentified individual outside Tennessee, where they exchanged messages about planning mass shootings. In one message, Fisher wrote:
“I’m gonna go on a spree this year probably. I’ve been planning for five years.”
On December 14, 2024, FBI agents interviewed Fisher at his home. During the interview, he admitted to being fascinated with mass shootings and obsessed with violent content.
A search of his electronic devices uncovered a video where Fisher explicitly declared his intent to target racial and religious minorities. Investigators also found a manifesto dated November 29, outlining a detailed plan to use firearms and explosives to cause mass casualties at his school.
A federal grand jury has since indicted Fisher on charges of communicating threats of mass violence. Prosecutors have requested that he remain in custody, arguing that “no set of conditions will assure the safety of the community.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes has delayed a detention hearing to allow Fisher’s defense to present evidence regarding his mental health and potential treatment options. The hearing is scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
While the case has not garnered significant media attention, it caught the notice of Solomon Henderson, the 17-year-old responsible for the recent Antioch High School shooting. Henderson, who killed two students before taking his own life, referenced Fisher in an online diary, writing:
“N**a was in my area lol.”
Although there is no evidence linking the two individuals personally, authorities are investigating any potential connections.
Federal investigators are continuing to analyze Fisher’s online activities and communications with others who may have influenced or encouraged his behavior.
Schools in the region have increased security and counseling resources, and law enforcement is urging anyone with relevant information to contact the FBI Nashville Field Office or submit tips anonymously through the FBI’s tip line.