Heavily Armed Savage Man Said He Was 'Pro Mass Shooting': FBI

SAVAGE, MN — A Savage man who said he was "pro mass shooting" faces two counts of federal weapons charges related to a machine gun and hand grenades, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.

River W. Smith, 20, was charged with one count of possession of a machine gun and one count of attempt to receive and possess destructive devices.

On Sept. 27, the FBI received a tip reporting Smith's disturbing behavior, according to authorities.

The FBI said that after investigating, agents learned Smith was preparing for a deadly exchange with police.

Smith said he was supportive of mass shootings and sympathized with the Parkland school shooter, authorities said.

He also expressed admiration for the man charged in the Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub shooting, according to investigators.

Smith had fully automatic rifles, handguns, suppressors, body armor, and a Kevlar helmet, investigators said. He said he was preparing to fight the police and was dedicated to dying in that fight, according to authorities.

Smith asked a government informant for grenades and an illegal part to convert his AR-15-style rifle into a fully automatic machine gun, according to investigators.

On Dec. 14, federal agents secretly observed a meeting between Smith and a government informant, authorities said. At the meeting, Smith bought three hand grenades and four auto sears, according to investigators.

Smith was then arrested by law enforcement, authorities said.