A Florida teenager has been arrested after authorities say he allegedly planned a mass shooting at a church near his home and was also connected to a child pornography investigation.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested 14-year-old Jose Pagan Jr. after receiving a tip about an alleged threat against a local congregation, as reported by The Christian Post.
“HCSO received a tip that Jose Pagan Jr., 14, had access to weapons and was planning to conduct a mass shooting at a church near his home in Wimauma. It was also determined that Pagan was possibly connected to an active HCSO child pornography investigation,” the sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.
Officials said investigators served a search warrant at the residence and recovered firearms, ammunition and electronic devices. “HCSO served a search warrant at the residence, where they found multiple firearms, ammunition, and electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material,” the sheriff’s office said.
Pagan is facing multiple charges, including “Written or Electronic Threat to Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism,” “In State Transmission of Child Pornography by Electronic Device,” 14 counts of “Solicitation or Possession of Child Pornography 10 or More Images and Content of Images” and two counts of “Unlawful Use of Two Way Communications Device.”
The investigation remains ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office. While Pagan was initially charged as a juvenile, the state attorney general’s office could later charge him as an adult.
“The age of the individual involved does not lessen the seriousness of these crimes,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said, as quoted in the sheriff’s office announcement. “Threats of mass violence and the exploitation of children demand immediate action, and we will always move swiftly to protect lives and hold those responsible accountable.”
Pagan was also reportedly linked to a neo-Nazi satanic group called the “Temple of Love,” according to Tampa Bay-based Fox 13. The group believes violence can be used to advance spiritual enlightenment, the report said.
Groups that openly identify with satanic ideology and promote violence are participating in rebellion against God and aligning themselves with spiritual darkness. The Bible teaches that Satan is “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44, MEV) and that his influence produces deception, hatred and destruction.
When individuals immerse themselves in belief systems that glorify violence and darkness, they place themselves in direct alignment with demonic influence, which leads down a path of moral corruption and spiritual ruin.
Authorities said Pagan did not specify which congregation he was allegedly planning to target. Fox 13 reported that deputies patrolled two churches near his home as a precaution.
Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.
