Man planned mass shooting against blacks, Muslims and Jews

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

PHOENIX — An Arizona man who prosecutors say hoped to incite a “race war” before the presidential election faces federal hate crime charges in connection with a plot to commit a mass shooting against blacks, Jews and Muslims.

Mark Prieto inadvertently revealed himself to two FBI agents and sold one of them two rifles as part of the shooting plot, prosecutors said. He reportedly targeted an Atlanta concert scheduled for May 14-15 because it was expected to draw a large crowd of blacks and other minorities.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Prieto had ongoing conversations between January and May with the two agents and did not know they were with the FBI. Instead, Prieto believed they “shared his racist beliefs and wanted to commit a mass shooting to incite a race war,” the statement said.

On the first day of the targeted concert, Prieto was pulled over with several guns and arrested, according to court records. He was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges of gun trafficking, transferring a firearm for use in a hate crime and possessing an unregistered firearm.

This week's indictment is the latest reported hate crime to sweep the country before November, as federal data shows an increase in such incidents over the past four presidential campaign cycles. The Leadership Conference Education Fund warned that the “very tense” political climate could fuel a further increase in reported hate crimes in the run-up to the election.

Feds: Prieto plans to target mosque in mass shooting plot

According to the indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, Prieto, 58, allegedly spoke in January with an undercover FBI agent and an FBI source about the “benefits” of using 'an AK platform rifle to commit the mass shooting. He sold the undercover agent an AK-47 rifle, then an AR-15 rifle when he decided it was a better weapon for the plot.

At a gun show in Pheonix, Arizona, in April, Prieto reportedly discussed with FBI agents the possibility of postponing the planned shooting to a later date and possibly targeting a mosque instead.

Prieto added that he wanted to make it happen before the election and as soon as possible, according to the indictment.

The FBI was closely monitoring Prieto, and law enforcement arrested him while he was driving alone in New Mexico. Authorities said they found seven firearms in his vehicle, and more weapons were discovered at his home two days later when officers executed a search warrant, including an unregistered short-barreled shotgun.

Each conviction of firearm trafficking and transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Possession of an unregistered firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.

Prieto's attorney was not listed in court records.

Report: Hate crimes increase during elections

According to a 2023 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund, each of the last four presidential campaign periods has seen an increase in hate crimes. The report, titled “Cause for Concern 2024: The State of Hate,” warns that the current cycle could see a new peak.

“From the mainstreaming of hate to the failure of social media platforms to adequately combat misinformation, the current climate is rife with opportunities for the trend of growing hate to continue through the 2024 elections – unless action is taken,” the report said.

He also noted that reported hate crimes have nearly doubled since 2015 and that white supremacists have been “particularly active” in the last four presidential elections.

Lina Portman

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