Photos: Las Vegas teenager allegedly ‘pledged allegiance to ISIS,’ built bombs, threatened school shooting

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A teenager accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired terror attack was found with bomb-making guides and was previously suspended for threatening a school shooting, according to documents and photos the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Joshua Robles was 16 when Las Vegas Metro police arrested him in late November. Because of his age at the time, the courts and police kept Robles’ name and details about his arrest confidential. Earlier this month, a judge certified Robles as an adult before a Clark County grand jury indicted him on terror-related charges, including providing material support for acts of terrorism or terrorists and attempting to commit or cause an act of terrorism.

Las Vegas Justice Court Pro Temp Judge Lauren Diefenbach initially set Robles’ bail at $10,000, adding should Robles post bail, he would be placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring. Prosecutors argued for Diefenbach to set the amount at $1 million.

Though Robles did not post bail, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill sent a letter to the court citing two state laws, which allow him to deny putting an inmate on house arrest amid a potential public safety risk.

On Aug. 23, staff at the Clark County Detention Center found a handwritten note in Robles’ cell, which included an ISIS flag and phrases such as, “Welcome with death,” prosecutors said.

Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou delayed readdressing Robles’ bail on Wednesday to review new documents in the case. Because Robles is under 18, Ballou ordered 8 News Now to only refer to him by his initials and his face be blurred when using video from her courtroom. However, Robles is an adult in the eyes of the court system and his name and photo are already public.

In late November, a person submitted a tip about Robles, saying he was allegedly posting online about supporting the Islamic State, documents said.

“Peace by [sic] upon all brothers who see this,” Robles wrote in one post, according to police. “I am here to announce that I will be starting lone wolf operations in Las Vegas against the enemies of Allah.”

Detectives tied the post back to Robles’ North Las Vegas residence, documents said, adding at least one post contained ISIS-inspired imagery. Police later found other online posts, which they said indicated Robles “likely [supported] ISIS and the use of violence in support of ISIS’s goals,” documents said.

On Nov. 29, 2023, police raided Robles’ home finding components they said could be used to make an explosive device. Specifically, police believe Robles was building explosive devices similar to the ones that killed three and injured hundreds in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Police suspect Robles may have been interested in carrying out an arson attack on Jan. 1, 2024, they said. Documents indicate Robles was searching for information and floorplans for Chaparral High School in the east valley.

Photos submitted as evidence in the case include suspected bomb-making materials, ISIS-inspired writings and notes about the terror group and terror-related videos and memes, prosecutors said.

“Defendant’s radicalization to violent extremist has developed over several years and continues despite his detention status,” prosecutors said in court documents. “In 2020, while in junior high, defendant was threatened to shoot up the school. In March of 2023, defendant was created a list of ISIS leader and pledged allegiance to ISIS. He also announced the creation of a local terrorist cell. By May of 2023, Defendant was advising an unknown individual on how to obtain news on ISIS through email and was giving instructions on how to travel in the Middle East.”

In 2020, while a middle school student, Robles was suspended after threatening a school shooting, prosecutors said.

Robles’ two public defenders requested Ballou set bail at $10,000 and put Robles on house arrest with no access to computers pending trial. They note last year’s arrest was his first.

Ballou will readdress bail on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

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