A Fort Worth 17-year-old accused of making social media threats to kill children at North Texas schools is part of a neo-Nazi group, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Investigators believe Evan Banda, who is charged with terroristic threat and terrorism, joined a “violent international neo-Nazi and accelerationist extremist group” after meeting one of the organization’s leaders on a video game platform, a Fort Worth police detective wrote in the affidavit.
The name of the group was redacted in the copy of the warrant released to the Star-Telegram, but police wrote that the group “adheres to a ‘Nihilistic National socialist’ philosophy, combining neo-Nazi and Satanic ideologies. They promote extreme violence and chaos to bring about the collapse of western society, in this particular case, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.”
When they became aware of the threats on Jan. 6, police said they were working with agencies including the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety to investigate the posts, and they had strong reason to believe the threats were not credible but were created with the “sole purpose of inciting fear.”
The detective described a video posted on social media by the group showing Crowley Middle School, which was recorded by Banda on Jan. 6 while he was riding his bike, the affidavit states. The video included the captions, “North Crowley School. You’ll Be The First (Expletive). Your Time Has Come. We’re Going To Kill A Lot Of Children. Blood Will Be Shed In You.”
Someone posted a comment under the video saying, “We are planning attacks in Texas, we will post all the evidence and videos in our channel. Many children will die.”
In another video described in the affidavit, a masked man holding a handgun said, “I have a rifle, a pistol, explosives and around 700 rounds of ammunition. I am confident I can kill 50 children, but I am not alone. My associates will be entering schools and start killing people. We will come to all the schools.“
The following schools were listed in the post with the video:
- Andrews Elementary School
- Baranoff Elementary School
- Barrington Elementary School
- Lake Dallas High School
- South Hills High School
- Arlington Heights High School
- Castleberry High School
- Nolan Catholic High School
- Watson High School
- Timber Creek High School
- Eagle Mountain High School
- RMA Fort Worth Public School
- Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
- North Crowley High School
Police say Banda also recorded videos when he set five cars on fire in a south Fort Worth neighborhood near Fox Run Park between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Those videos were shared on related social media accounts, the affidavit states.
Investigators first obtained a warrant to search Banda’s home in connection with the arson case. When he was interviewed by police, Banda initially denied any involvement in the arsons but later admitted to setting the fires, according to the affidavit.
Based on Banda’s phone records and what he told detectives, it was determined that he was an active member of the group that made the threats of mass shootings at schools, the affidavit states.
Banda told detectives that he participated in the threats out of fear of being “doxxed,” meaning his private information like name, address and phone numbers would be published online.
The teenager’s phone also revealed that in a group chat it was discussed that Banda would take video at Crowley schools to confirm whether law enforcement was present. No police were visible at the middle school when he recorded the video on Jan. 6.
“Once the group realized that there was no law enforcement at the school, one member suggested that the video be utilized to suggest that the Crowley Middle School is the first location that this group would be killing children at,” the affidavit states.
Detectives noted in the affidavit that Banda at times “participated in the discussion of the offense” in the group chat. Banda told police that another person involved in planning the threats is a student at North Crowley High School.
Banda is being held in the Tarrant County Jail with bond set at almost $2 million. The 17-year-old also is charged with possession of child pornography because of a video found in his possession the depicted the sexual assault of a child, according to a complaint filed by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 9:09 PM.
Shambhavi Rimal
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