The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 19-year-old Giovanni Pimienta from Venice on some serious charges: writing threats to kill, threatening to bomb or carry out a mass shooting, and using a two-way device while committing a felony.
“The way our team worked to track Pimienta down stopped his plan before anyone got hurt,” FDLE Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. He praised the special agents, intelligence and forensic analysts, and the Special Operations Team for their teamwork and quick action.
The case started when an FDLE agent got a tip from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. They learned Pimienta had been chatting online about getting weapons, talking about mass shootings, and even praising previous attacks.
Agents dug deeper and found an AI-generated video that backed up his intention, along with a manifesto he posted on social media.
On August 7, special agents, analysts, and the Special Operations Team carried out a search warrant. They seized a handgun and several electronic devices.
While searching, they learned Pimienta held a grudge against a local church and was planning to take hostages there during a mass shooting, using the handgun agents had just confiscated.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Venice Police Department, and FBI all helped with the investigation.
The State Attorney’s Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit is prosecuting the case.
Investigators are still working on the case. Click here for more information.
