Arizona Man Allegedly Plotted Mass Shooting at Atlanta Concert to Incite Race War

Mark Adams Prieto, 58, from Arizona, has been indicted for plotting a mass shooting at a Bad Bunny concert in Atlanta to incite a race war. Federal prosecutors allege that Prieto planned to target Black concertgoers using semi-automatic rifles obtained through cash deals to avoid detection.

The plot was uncovered when a recruited participant informed the FBI, leading to a months-long investigation. Prieto also attempted to recruit an undercover agent. He believed a mass shooting should occur before martial law is implemented after the 2024 election.

“Prieto believes that martial law will be implemented shortly after the 2024 election and that a mass shooting should occur prior,” the source told the FBI Phoenix office, adding that Prieto was “ready to kill a bunch of people.”

Prieto chose Atlanta due to its significant Black population, whom he blamed for increased crime. He planned the attack for mid-May, June, or July, including a Bad Bunny concert, advising conspirators to wear hoodies to blend in.

He targeted a rap concert, believing it would attract a large Black audience, and advised his co-conspirators to wear hoodies to blend in. Prieto planned to leave Confederate flags at the scene and shout “KKK all the way” and “no mercy, no quarter.”

Prieto went as far as planning to stash guns near the concert and considered several dates in mid-May, June, or July, including one where Bad Bunny was scheduled to perform. Despite telling the undercover agent in April that he wanted to delay the attack, Prieto continued planning until his arrest on May 14.

He was arrested on May 14 and admitted discussing the plot but claimed he did not intend to follow through. Prieto faces charges of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Firearms Trafficking, and Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Hate Crime, which could result in up to 40 years in prison if convicted.