SAN ANTONIO – A 20-year-old New Braunfels man pleaded guilty to attempting to receive and use a firearm to commit a felony.

The Justice Department, citing court documents, alleges that Cameron Darrick Peterson had been planning mass shootings since November 2022.

In January 2024, the DOJ said Peterson walked into a pawn shop in New Braunfels and tried to buy a 12-gauge shotgun.

While he completed the required background check, Peterson was denied because of his age and the type of gun he wanted to buy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said.

Four months later, on May 31, Peterson returned to the same pawn shop and tried to buy a 12-gauge assault rifle. Officials said the pawn shop turned Peterson down a second time.

Five days after Peterson was turned away at the pawn shop for the second time, FBI agents executed a warrant for Peterson’s arrest. The DOJ said New Braunfels police arrested Peterson.

As part of a federal search warrant on Peterson and his home, FBI agents found a modified .22-caliber long rifle with a sawed-off stock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds, court records show.

On June 6, agents said they later discovered Peterson’s Instagram account where he made statements about attacking a gas station. Also that day, investigators said Peterson was recorded from jail telling a witness to hide or destroy a potentially incriminating videotape.

According to the DOJ, Peterson made a videotape of himself searching a grocery store for a potential future attack.

During a June 10 search of his home, investigators said they classified one of the 11 aerosol containers they found as an improvised explosive device (IED). The IED was not registered with the National Firearms Registry because of Peterson’s age, the documents show.

Peterson’s sentencing date is set for February 5, 2025. He faces up to 10 years in prison and could be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.

Officials said a federal district court judge will determine Peterson’s sentence after considering U.S. sentencing guidelines and other factors.