Noah Robert Calderon, Destructive Device Possession, Texas 2023

BURLESON, TX – A 22-year-old Burleson man, Noah Robert Calderon, is facing federal charges after authorities discovered he was allegedly building a homemade bomb and openly fantasized about mass shootings, particularly the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The discovery, made after a tip to law enforcement, has raised serious concerns about a potential averted tragedy in the Fort Worth suburbs.

According to court documents, the FBI began investigating Calderon in October 2022 after receiving reports of disturbing images posted to his Snapchat account. These images allegedly depicted homemade explosives, including one marked with “SS” – a chilling reference to the Nazi paramilitary organization. Investigators quickly uncovered a pattern of online activity showcasing a disturbing obsession with weapons and extremist ideology. Calderon’s social media was rife with tactical gear photos, AR-15-style rifles, handguns, and Columbine-themed memes.

The investigation escalated in March 2023 when authorities received reports of an explosion in a residential neighborhood. 911 calls detailing a loud concussive sound and smoke led investigators to believe Calderon had detonated a homemade device. A subsequent search of his Google activity revealed searches for the Columbine killers, the Charleston church shooter, and explicit instructions on building pipe and propane bombs – including details on how those devices were used at Columbine. Online purchases confirmed Calderon had acquired two pounds of potassium perchlorate, one pound of aluminum powder, and a striped fuse.

On April 17, 2023, federal agents executed a search warrant at Calderon’s Burleson home. In his garage, they found a brown shoe box containing bomb-making materials, including a glass jar labeled “frag” filled with metal BBs and lead, alongside 659.2 grams of explosive powder in a white plastic container. Even more damning, agents discovered a handwritten “Manifesto” in Calderon’s room glorifying the Columbine shooters and espousing white supremacist beliefs.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, stated that Calderon “exhibited several indicators of potential violence” and that authorities “may have averted mass tragedy.” She also highlighted the critical role of the tipster who alerted law enforcement to Calderon’s concerning social media posts, urging the public to report suspicious behavior via Texas iWatch, an anonymous reporting system. FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the bureau’s commitment to protecting communities from violence.

Calderon, charged with one count of possession of a destructive device on April 18 and formally indicted on May 10, made his initial appearance in federal court on May 15 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. An indictment and criminal complaint are allegations only; Calderon is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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