In May 2024, an Arizona man planned to carry out a mass shooting at a Bad Bunny concert in Atlanta, Georgia, according to a federal government indictment announced on Thursday (June 13).
A plot allegedly aimed at African Americans and minorities was indicted earlier this week against Mark Adams Prieto, 58. According to Prieto, he wanted to spark a race war before the presidential election.
During his massively successful Most Wanted tour, which ended last week with a three-night finale in Puerto Rico, The “Dakiti” hitmaker performed in Atlanta on May 14. His tour is one of the year’s highest-grossing events in music.
To promote his fifth studio album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, the latest tour is Bad Bunny’s fifth since acquiring fame in 2016. In 2022, the Puerto Rican entertainer performed two tours in a single year.
According to the indictment, Prieto acquired semi-automatic rifles using cash or trades to evade federal gun regulations. A source whom Prieto tried to recruit for his plot alerted the FBI.
NBC News shared an obtained affidavit on Wednesday (June 12), which detailed the investigation, including an undercover agent whom Prieto also attempted to enlist. Prieto began plotting the mass shooting in February 2024 and met with an undercover agent in April to further discuss plans.
Federal court records revealed Prieto purportedly hid firearms near the concert venue before traveling to carry out the attack. The source informed the FBI Phoenix office that Prieto believed martial law would be implemented shortly after the 2024 election and that a mass shooting should occur beforehand. Prieto allegedly declared he was “ready to kill a bunch of people.”
Prieto faces charges of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Firearms Trafficking, and Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Hate Crime. If convicted, Prieto could receive up to 40 years in prison.
Bad Bunny has not responded to the reports yet.