HOUSTON – A Harris County grand jury returned an indictment charging a Houston teen with terrorism.
Laith Adil Shehzad, 17, is being charged with a felony punishable by a sentence of no less than 15 years to life
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The indictment was returned under a new state law that created a criminal offense of terrorism. This is the first time someone has been charged with terrorism under this statute in Harris County.
The law applies to a person who commits or conspires to commit an array of existing offenses and commits or conspires to commit the offense with the intent to intimidate or coerce the public or a substantial group of the public. The offense is punishable by one penalty category higher than the most serious offense that was committed or conspired to be committed.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our dedicated law enforcement partners for taking action to prevent what could have been a tragic act of mass violence against innocent people in Harris County,” said Sean Teare, Harris County District Attorney. “Their vigilance and commitment to public safety have undoubtedly saved lives, and we are grateful for their unwavering efforts to protect our communities. The people of Harris County can rest assured that our prosecutors will pursue this case with the urgency and integrity it deserves. I want to thank the prosecutors in our Organized Crime Division for their dedication to this case and express my gratitude to the grand jurors for their service.