An 18-year-old Mesa man accused of plotting a mass shooting is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond after Mesa Police and the FBI say they uncovered a disturbing pattern of online research tied to some of the deadliest attacks in recent history. Damien Alexander Bedonie was taken into custody early Tuesday morning and now faces one felony count of making a terrorist threat.
According to court documents cited by FOX 10 Phoenix, Mesa officers assisted the FBI in arresting Bedonie in connection with the alleged plot. Search warrants reportedly turned up evidence that he researched past mass casualty events, including the 2015 Paris terror attacks, the Boston Marathon bombing, and the Uvalde school shooting. Investigators say he also searched for details on how the Paris attacks were coordinated and carried out.
Court filings say Bedonie searched for how to buy weapons and tactical gear, including how to acquire weapons for a specific amount of money. Ashley Stetson told the court that his internet history showed a pattern of searches spanning both firearms purchases and major violent attacks. Authorities have not released details on specific potential targets or the groups allegedly in his sights.
Prosecutors Point to a Federal Threat-Assessment Model
State prosecutors described Bedonie as incel-adjacent and said he expressed deep-seated hatred toward specific groups, stating he wished to harm them. To build their case, prosecutors evaluated his actions under the FBI's Pathway to Violence model, a six-stage framework that moves from grievance and ideation through research and planning, preparation, breach, and ultimately attack, according to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Prosecutors argue Bedonie's actions represented a shift from online statements to real-world preparation.
A joint strategic intelligence assessment from the FBI and DHS identified online-radicalized lone actors motivated by mixed ideological beliefs and personal grievances as among the most persistent domestic terrorism threats facing the country. Nationally, open domestic terrorism cases tracked by the FBI grew by 357 percent between fiscal years 2013 and 2021, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Weapon Acquisition Unclear, but Charge Carries Years in Prison
Despite the extensive research, it was unclear whether Bedonie had acquired weapons or tactical gear before his arrest. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2308.02, making a terrorist threat is a Class 3 felony carrying a possible maximum sentence of up to 8.75 years in prison for a first-time offender, according to the Rideout Law Group. Arizona law also makes clear that a lack of intent or actual physical capability to carry out a threat is not a valid defense against the charge, the Belén Law Firm notes, meaning prosecutors do not need to prove Bedonie had obtained firearms to pursue a conviction.
Convictions under the statute also carry financial consequences beyond prison time. Individuals found guilty of making a terrorist threat are legally liable for reasonable expenses incurred by public agencies and law enforcement during the investigation and emergency response, according to the State of Arizona Legislature.
Case Heads to Superior Court Next Week
Bedonie appeared at an initial court hearing Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in Maricopa County Superior Court on October 12. Court documents were filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, where initial appearances must occur within 24 hours of arrest so judicial officers can review probable cause, set bail conditions, and schedule future court dates, per the Talcott Law Firm.
Bedonie is currently held at Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix. The case echoes an incident just months earlier: in February, Dobson High teen nabbed over threats after a 15-year-old Mesa student was arrested following online mass shooting threats targeting his school and a local mosque. That case also involved seizure of tactical gear and replica weapons.
Information in this report was gathered from Maricopa County Superior Court documents, Ashley Stetson, the Mesa Police Department, and the FBI.
