The FBI foils a deadly plot against Buc-ee and New Braunfels high schools

SAN ANTONIO – A plot to attack the Buc-ees on I-35 and two New Braunfels High Schools was stopped by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The man who plotted the attack, Cameron Darrick Peterson, pleaded guilty yesterday to one of the three charges against him.

My research led us to details that were not included in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Peterson is said to have started planning the mass shootings in November 2022. In January this year, he attempted to purchase a 12-gauge shotgun from Comal Pawn but was denied due to the type of weapon and its age.

Meanwhile, Peterson continued to plan his attack on Buc-ee’s and two high schools.

A video recorded in the woods of a New Braunfels park shows him discussing the attack with his girlfriend, sources said.

The attack on the Buc-ees was intended as a distraction.

Peterson would then attend the two high schools, Canyon High School and the other New Braunfels High School.

Sources tell us Peterson was once a student at Canyon High School. Those familiar with the plea deal in court Wednesday tell me that Peterson had one improvised explosive device (IED) fully built and had the materials to make 10 more IEDs.

Peterson’s alleged plan was to carry out the mass shootings in 2026 or earlier. However, authorities believe that after he tried to buy a gun in January and was denied it, his plan changed and he may have intended to carry it out sooner.

So he tried to buy a gun a second time in May, but was flagged for alleged previous lies on his federal ATF form when he tried to buy the gun in January.

Federal sources say extra precautions were taken during this year’s graduation ceremonies at both high schools since Peterson had not yet been arrested. He was taken into custody on June 5.

If the judge signs the plea deal during sentencing, Peterson could have spent a maximum of 10 years behind bars instead of 20 years to life if he had gone to trial and been found guilty of the three charges initially filed against him. The verdict is scheduled for early next year.

We called both Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD for comment. Comal ISD responded that they would not comment on the Peterson case.