'Pro Mass Shooting' Savage, MN Man Had Weapons Cache: Feds

SAVAGE, MN — A Savage man admitted in federal court to owning an illegal firearm, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger Tuesday.

River William Smith, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machine gun.

The FBI said in September 2022 that it received tips reporting the disturbing behavior of a man at a gun range, later identified as Smith.

In November and December 2022, Smith began 2communicating over social media with an undercover FBI source, authorities said. Smith was preparing for a violent exchange with the police, investigators said.

Smith said he was "pro mass shooting," sympathized with the Parkland school shooter, and expressed admiration for the person charged in a recent shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub, according to authorities.

Smith has access to an AR-style rifle, handguns, body armor, and a Kevlar helmet, the FBI said. Smith told the FBI informant that he studied his "enemy" by watching police bodycam shootings online, according to authorities.

In November and December 2022, Smith asked a second FBI informant for auto sears to convert his AR-15 style rifle and his Glock handgun into fully automatic machine guns, and military-grade fragmentary grenades, according to investigators.

On Dec. 14, Smith met the informant and bought three auto sears and three inert hand grenades in exchange for $690 in cash, authorities said. Smith was then arrested, according to the FBI.