Authorities have identified a connection between a foreign Satanist group and a school shooting in Tennessee while also uncovering another online cult. The leader of the group remains unaccounted for nearly a year after being implicated in the tragedy.
Mikhail Tsikvishvili, leader of a Georgian neo-Nazi “maniac murder cult,” recently pleaded guilty to federal charges related to violence incited by his propaganda. This includes the Antioch High School shooting in Nashville that occurred in January. Archived web pages reviewed by a news outlet revealed that the shooter’s online activities aligned with a separate cult, Totenation, whose leader has remained anonymous.
An internet user, going by “Freedom of Love,” has echoed troubling themes linked to a Satanic network, which is reportedly a high priority for the FBI in child exploitation cases.
Seventeen-year-old Solomon Henderson fired shots in a school cafeteria on January 22, injuring one student before turning the gun on himself. Investigations indicated that he was deeply entrenched in dark online trends promoting violence, hatred, and occult practices, a movement characterized by the Department of Justice as “nihilistic violent extremists.”
In July 2024, Tsikvishvili was arrested in Moldova and later extradited to the U.S. for plotting violence against Jews. The Justice Department noted that Henderson had referenced Tsikvishvili’s rhetoric. The extremist group he led reportedly gained inspiration from Tsikvishvili’s materials encouraging school shootings.
After December 2024, a number of accounts linked to “Liber” became active before facing suspension. It’s unclear whether one or more individuals operated these accounts, but they shared similar satanic motifs found in Henderson’s writings, even referring to him as “our saint” after his death. Henderson’s diary featured illustrations and plans for genocide, indicating a disturbing line of thought.
In one entry, he expressed uncertainty about harming his family while musing over his “manifesto.” The diary included child-like images referencing a terrorist network associated with incidents of child exploitation.
Following the shooting, Henderson created a chat room on Discord where members discussed targeting “well-groomed victims.” The platform mirrored symbols from the extremist networks he was associated with, hinting at a connection to historical Nazi iconography.
Henderson’s writings included a grotesque depiction of a figure named “Liber of Love.” In January, discussions emerged that allegedly provided guidelines for distributing child pornography without being detected, raising grave concerns among authorities.
One account linked to the “Liber” name was filled with references to pedophilia, reflecting a troubling trend of anti-MAP discrimination after yet another account faced suspension.
Becca Spinks, a researcher focused on online extremism, claimed that Henderson was active just before the shooting on a platform associated with “Liber.” Screenshots she obtained indicated that Henderson had posted videos related to the “Maniac Murder Cult” and that group members recognized him as the shooter.
In a public forum, “Liber” expressed admiration for Henderson, labeling him a catalyst for violence while others raised questions about the effectiveness of his actions. Some responses hinted at frustration nearby Henderson’s attack.
As awareness of nihilistic violence increases, the FBI has opened numerous cases focused on the 764 network. The National Center on Missing and Exploited Children anticipates that they’ll receive thousands of reports linked to such groups by 2025, as these organizations engage minors with harmful content.
Spinks suggested that authorities should impose stricter penalties on juvenile offenders to deter such behavior, highlighting a need for transparency in arrests. In his writings, Henderson exhibited a deep disdain for life and a complex outlook on violence, even expressing admiration for a fellow perpetrator who committed mass murder.
“My sister is about to undergo changes,” he wrote, indicating a warped sense of grooming. Overall, Henderson’s diary serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by the internet to impressionable youth.
