An 18-year-old Colorado man, Davin Daniel Meyer, was apprehended by the FBI at Denver International Airport last Friday. Authorities allege he was attempting to board an international flight en route to Iraq to join the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS). Meyer appeared in federal court on Monday.

According to the Department of Justice, Meyer had pledged allegiance to the ISIS leader. The investigation began in June 2022 when an acquaintance of Meyer contacted Douglas County police, expressing concerns about his radicalization. The source revealed Meyer’s transition from white supremacist ideologies to practicing Islam, followed by a concerning shift towards extremism influenced by online content. Reports indicate Meyer had expressed desires to harm himself and others.

Court documents reveal that in October 2022, Meyer allegedly discussed plans to construct a bomb within the United States if he was unable to travel to the Middle East. The following month, he reportedly contacted an individual he believed to be an ISIS facilitator, who was actually an undercover agent. Meyer reiterated his pledge to ISIS, even after the death of its leader and the subsequent appointment of a successor.

Meyer reportedly saved money from his mother’s allowance to purchase a plane ticket to Turkey, a common transit point for individuals seeking to enter conflict zones in the Middle East. Federal agents arrested him on the jet bridge as he prepared to board the aircraft.

The affidavit also notes that Meyer attended an eight-month mental health and behavioral treatment program between 2021 and 2022. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, adjustment disorder, a learning disorder, and major depressive disorder. He reportedly declined medication for these conditions, citing religious reasons. Additionally, a local mosque reportedly stated that Meyer had violated their code of conduct after he complained about the presence of women.

The FBI’s Denver Field Office and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating this case.