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FBI thwarts man’s alleged plan to attack Nashville power grid with explosive-laden drone

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FBI thwarts man’s alleged plan to attack Nashville power grid with explosive-laden drone

A Columbia, Tennessee man allegedly attempted to fly a drone packed with explosives into an energy facility before the FBI stopped him from destroying the critical infrastructure, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a press release, the DOJ said 24-year-old Skyler Philippi was arrested and charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility.

“As charged, Skyler Philippi believed he was moments away from launching an attack on a Nashville energy facility to further his violent white supremacist ideology – but the FBI had already compromised his plot,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said. “This case serves as yet another warning to those seeking to sow violence and chaos in the name of hatred by attacking our country’s critical infrastructure: the Justice Department will find you, we will disrupt your plot, and we will hold you accountable.”

The DOJ said Philippi told a confidential human source (CHS) in June, that he wanted to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA in the Columbia, Tennessee area.

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Skyler Philippi took a picture with FBI undercover employees while holding pipe bombs. (Department of Justice)

Nearly a month later, he allegedly told another CHS that an attack on large interstate substations would “shock the system,” and cause other substations to malfunction.

According to the DOJ, Philippi researched previous attacks on electric substations, ultimately concluding that just using firearms was not enough. Instead, he planned to use a drone with explosives attached to it, and then fly the drone into a substation.

In September, Philippi allegedly went to a substation with undercover FBI employees that he had previously researched and conducted reconnaissance on.

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Skylar Philippi met with FBI undercover employees in an open area near Franklin, Tennessee, to test fly a drone. (Department of Justice)

While on the way, Philippi allegedly ordered C-4 and other explosives from the undercover employees, then later purchased black powder to put into pipe bombs. The DOJ said Philippi intended to use the pipe bombs during the attack on the substation.

He also allegedly texted the confidential source, “if you want to do the most damage as an accelerationist, attack high economic, high tax, political zones in every major metropolis.” Referring to the substation, Philippi stated, “Holy sh**. This will go up like a fu**in fourth of July firework.”

Philippi allegedly discussed the need for disguises, leather gloves, wearing shoes that are too big and the need to burn their clothes after attacking the substation. He also allegedly told the crew to not bring smartphones on the night of the attack.

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On Nov. 2, 2024, Philippi participated in a Nordic ritual and recited a Nordic prayer, the DOJ said.

“This is where the New Age begins,” Philippi reportedly told the undercover employees, adding it was time to do something big that would be remembered “in the annals of history.”

Philippi and the undercover employees drove to the site, and when they arrived, they moved to their assigned lookout positions before law enforcement agents arrested him.

The DOJ said Philippi was at the rear of the vehicle when he was arrested, where the drone was powered up. Next to the drone, the DOJ added, was an armed explosive.

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“Driven by a racially motivated violent extremist ideology, the Defendant planned to attack the power grid with a drone and explosives, leaving thousands of Americans and critical infrastructure like hospitals without power,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “The FBI’s swift work led to the detection and disruption of the defendant’s plot before he could cause any damage. We are committed to holding accountable anyone who threatens the security of our critical infrastructure or seeks to harm American communities through domestic violent extremism.”

Philippi was charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

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Florida attorney general demands nursing board revoke license of nurse who wished injury on Karoline Leavitt

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Florida attorney general demands nursing board revoke license of nurse who wished injury on Karoline Leavitt

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Florida attorney general James Uthmeier is calling for the Florida Board of Nursing to revoke the license of a woman after she said she hoped White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suffers a severe injury in childbirth. 

“Women shouldn’t have to worry about a politically driven nurse who wishes them pain and suffering being in the delivery room during childbirth,” Uthmeier told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

“It’s evil,” he added. “The Florida Board of Nursing must take action to keep this person away from patients permanently.”

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is expecting her second child this year. (Andrew Harnik)

In a video posted on TikTok, Lexie Lawler, a former labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, said, “As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a fourth degree tear.”

She continued with explicit language, saying she hoped Leavitt would suffer a permanent injury during childbirth.

“I hope you f——- rip from bow to stern and never s— normally again, you c—,” she said.

In December, Leavitt announced that she and her husband Nick are expecting a baby girl due in May, who will join their first son, Niko, born in July 2024.

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Lawler was subsequently fired from Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

The hospital told Fox News Digital that her comments “do not reflect our values or the standards we expect of healthcare professionals,” but Lawler has since defended her remarks in another video, and appeared to reference an unrelated shooting in Minnesota while responding to criticism over her comments.

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“Women shouldn’t have to worry about a politically-driven nurse who wishes them pain and suffering being in the delivery room during childbirth,” Uthmeier told Fox News Digital in a statement.  (DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

“So they just murdered a man in Minnesota, they murdered a man in Minnesota, and you mother——- are coming after me because I used bad language? F— you. I’m on the right side of this. F— you.”

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A “GoFundMe” has been set up for Lawler which has raised nearly $5,000 with a goal of $14,000. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Florida Board of Nursing and Lawler for comment. 

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A GoFundMe has been set up for Lawler which has raised over $4,000 with a goal of $14,000.  (Photo illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

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Grandson charged with murdering retired grandparents found dead in their South Carolina home

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Grandson charged with murdering retired grandparents found dead in their South Carolina home

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Authorities in upstate South Carolina have arrested the 19-year-old grandson of a retired couple found slain in their home earlier this month, charging him with two counts of murder in a case that has shaken a small rural community.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said Levi Kevin Jones was taken into custody late Friday and charged in connection with the deaths of Larry Moore, 76, and Sandra Moore, 75, who were discovered inside their residence on Cromer Moore Road near Westminster on Jan. 15.

Jones is also charged with two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to arrest warrants obtained by Fox News Digital. He remains in custody pending a bond hearing.

The couple was found after a family member requested a welfare check when repeated attempts to reach them were unsuccessful. Investigators and the county coroner later determined the deaths were homicides.

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RETIRED SOUTH CAROLINA COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN HOMICIDE AT HOME

Larry and Sandra Moore are pictured during a church gathering at Calvary Church. The couple was later remembered by the congregation following their deaths. (Calvary Church Facebook)

According to the Oconee County Coroner’s Office, Larry Moore died from multiple stabbing injuries, while Sandra Moore died from manual strangulation. Autopsies were conducted the following day.

Arrest warrants allege Jones stabbed his grandfather multiple times in the torso and neck and strangled his grandmother, cutting off her airway and blood flow. Authorities said a knife was used during the attack.

Authorities have not provided a motive for the attack.

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The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said the couple’s grandson, Levi Kevin Jones, is charged with two counts of murder in the case, as well as two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. (Oconee County Sheriff’s Office)

The Moores were longtime residents of the area and well known in the community as the former owners of Moore & Moore Fish Camp, a local restaurant that operated for decades before the couple retired.

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They were also active members of Calvary Church, where friends described them as regular attendees.

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“They were always there,” Stacy Brooks, who attended church, told Fox News Digital. “You expected to see them every time you went. They were faithful people.”

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The Oconee County Coroner’s Office, which assisted in the investigation into the deaths of Larry and Sandra Moore, is shown in an exterior view. (Oconee County Coroner’s Office)

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Brooks said the killings have been difficult for residents of the small upstate South Carolina town to process.

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“This is a close community, and something like this just doesn’t happen often,” she said.

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The sheriff’s office previously said the killings appeared to be an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.



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Florida deputies race to save 4-year-old who stopped breathing and had no pulse on interstate, video shows

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Florida deputies race to save 4-year-old who stopped breathing and had no pulse on interstate, video shows

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Deputies in Florida raced to save the life of a 4-year-old child on Interstate 275 after the boy suffered a medical emergency, authorities said Sunday.

Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies responded at around 5:20 p.m. Saturday to a “person down” call involving an unresponsive child on the highway.

When deputies arrived, the child was not breathing and had no pulse.

Bodycam footage shows deputies rushing to the vehicle on the side of the interstate and pulling the child out of the back seat.

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The child was not breathing and had no pulse when deputies arrived at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

As one deputy picked up the boy, a woman who had been performing CPR could be heard saying, “He’s breathing!”

The deputy carried the child to the side of the interstate, laid him on the ground and began CPR.

Deputies performed CPR immediately and continued until paramedics arrived. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

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“There’s something in the mouth. Pull it out!” one rescuer said.

It was unclear what was blocking the child’s breathing, but once it was cleared, first responders continued CPR until Tampa Fire Rescue crews arrived and took over treatment.

The boy was taken to a local hospital where he was recovering in stable condition. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

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Officials said the child was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and is now listed as being in stable condition.

The sheriff’s office credited the deputies’ quick actions with saving the child’s life.

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