A 22-year-old man has confessed to a planned attack aimed at killing several individuals at a political party’s headquarters in Michigan, as well as at a nearby bar, which he linked to the LGBTQ+ community.
Mack Davis entered a guilty plea on Tuesday in federal court located in Flint, acknowledging that his actions constituted a hate crime due to his intent to carry out a mass shooting, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Michigan.
His sentencing is set for April 15, where he could face a range of penalties including a potential life sentence, with the judge determining the sentencing guidelines.
Court documents reveal that Davis conducted extensive online research and shared posts on social media regarding mass shootings from July 2023 through June 2024.
Authorities discovered writings reflecting on mass murderers in a journal found at his residence in Owosso, Michigan, approximately 92 miles northwest of Detroit.
Additionally, law enforcement found an inventory of weapons and tactical equipment, which included two firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow and arrows, parts for bomb-making, smoke grenades, and knives.
One knife bore an anti-gay slur etched into it.
While the documents did not specify which political party was targeted, they indicated that Davis referred to it in a social media post as being populated by “far left liberals,” accompanied by a derogatory term toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Authorities noted that two vehicles belonging to Davis’s neighbors were also vandalized, with one vehicle being defaced with an anti-gay insult in June. Shortly thereafter, this same vehicle was shot at as Davis fired about 60 rounds from an illegal short-barreled rifle from a bedroom window toward neighboring properties.
Local police apprehended Davis for the shooting incident, after which he was transferred to federal authorities.
Dawn Ison, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, described the plans for mass violence as “chilling.” She emphasized the severity of his intent, stating, “He aimed to carry out mass shootings at two locations — risking countless lives and wreaking havoc on our community — all driven by his extreme hatred for gay individuals.”
In response, Davis’ public defender contested this narrative.
“Mr. Davis did not mean to harm anyone, despite having ample opportunities to do so,” insisted Bryan J. Sherer of the Federal Defender Office in Flint in an email statement.
Sherer clarified, “The materials discovered by law enforcement were located within Mr. Davis’s private journal in his bedroom. Law enforcement only became aware of Mr. Davis following his intentional shooting at several unoccupied vehicles. He does not possess a record of violent conduct towards others prior to his arrest on charges related to this hate crime attempt.”
