Molas, of RAND Europe, says Martinâs alleged path from extortion to soliciting a homicide traces a familiar path of transgressive behavior often seen in Com/764âs online world. âTheyâll start with little acts of sinâshoplifting, then robberies, abuse of minors, weapons violations, then all the way up to kidnapping and murder,â Molas says.
In mid-February, Jairo Tinajero, a 25-year-old Arkansas man who took part in the 764 splinter group 8884, pleaded guilty to CSAM and conspiracy charges for extorting an underage girl in Louisville, Kentucky. According to his plea agreement, Tinajero confessed to plotting to kill the girl once she stopped complying with him, posting her address and personal information about her and her family family in 764âs servers, unsuccessfully trying to buy an assault rifle, and talking through a murder plot with other 764 members.
Tinajero also admitted taking part in 764 online chats where prior mass casualty attacks were discussed along with âfuture attacks on heavily populated areas such as malls or other large gatherings, LGBTQ+ events and gatherings, schools, public places, government buildings and police stationsâ with the intent to âdestabilize society and cause the collapse of governments and rule of law.â
Most recently, neo-Nazi Aidan Hardingâs inspiration from 764 was brought up during a mid-February federal court hearing for CSAM possession charges. In addition to participating in public actions with a number of Pittsburgh-area extremist groups, prosecutors claimed that Harding and another man were deeply interested in the Columbine massacre, visiting the memorial in Littleton, Colorado, and posing for a photo in front of a swastika flag while dressed as Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. âEric and Dylan were kickstarting a revolution,â Harding wrote in a message, which prosecutors showed in court. Harding and the other man, who hasnât been charged, also discussed carrying out mass shootings through Instagram direct messages, which were presented in court. âThe only thing holding me back is a partner ⦠I donât want to do it alone or die alone,â Harding wrote.
According to two researchers who attended Hardingâs three-and-a-half-hour court appearance related to probable cause on February 12, an FBI agent claimed during questioning that investigators found reams of videos depicting children being raped, ultraviolent videos of executions, and the extremist mass shootings in Buffalo, Nashville, and Columbine, along with a photo on Hardingâs phone of a phrase daubed in blood: âI sold my soul to 764,â above a swastika and a Lviathan cross often used by 764. Another photo, handed up to the judge and not shown in court, depicted the naked chest of a young girl wearing a cross, with the words âNo Lives Matterâ carved into her body with a sharp instrument.â Harding has pleaded not guilty.
The crimes described in court cases this year follow a months-long surge in No Lives Matterârelated violence. In October, authorities claim, a 14-year-old Swede committed eight attacks on unsuspecting passersby in Stockholm. The attacker, per national broadcaster SVT, took part in 764 and went by the handle âSlainâ in the group. Documents circulated by 764 participants on Telegram and elsewhere claim âSlain764â as one of their own, and identify Sweden, the UK, and Bulgaria as countries where their group has a presence.