Santa Clara Man Indicted for Making False Statements to Acquire Firearms After Prior Commitment to Mental Institution Related to School Shooting Plans

SAN JOSE - Clayton Girard, 27, has been charged by indictment with making false statements in the acquisition of a firearm. Girard was arrested on October 22, 2026, in Santa Clara, and will make his initial appearance on the indictment in federal court in San Jose today.

According to the criminal complaint filed October 21, 2026, now unsealed, between October 2023 and April 2026, Girard, of Santa Clara, is alleged to have purchased from federally licensed dealers 11 firearms, including AR-style rifles, semiautomatic pistols, and shotguns after repeatedly making false statements when completing the Firearms Transaction Record, which must be completed by a potential purchaser of a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. Girard repeatedly answered that he had never been committed to a mental institution. The complaint alleges that in 2017, Girard was involuntarily committed to a mental institution in New York after authorities discovered his journal, which included detailed plans to commit a mass shooting at his school and to abduct and murder a specific acquaintance. While executing a search warrant at Girard's residence, federal agents recovered 10 firearms (Figure 1), a large amount of pistol and rifle ammunition (Figure 2), high-capacity magazines (Figure 2), tactical gear (Figure 3), and several large knives (Figures 4 & 5).

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.

"An individual who threatened former classmates, authored a manifesto describing horrific acts of violence, and subsequently acquired numerous firearms presents precisely the kind of public safety threat that demands a quick federal response, which is exactly what occurred here," said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.

"Federal firearms laws provide critical safeguards designed to protect our communities, and making false statements to circumvent those safeguards is a serious crime. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use every tool available to us to protect the community from threats of violence."

"Today's charges reflect the FBI's unwavering commitment to preventing gun violence and potential mass shootings in our communities," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott R. Schelble. "When individuals illegally obtain firearms - especially after prior conduct indicating plans for targeted violence - it poses a serious threat to public safety."

"This case demonstrates how early intervention and strong partnerships can stop that threat before it becomes tragedy. I want to thank the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety and the Santa Clara Police Department for their swift collaboration on this case. Together, we remain dedicated to protecting the public and ensuring firearms do not fall into dangerous hands."

Girard is currently in federal custody after being ordered detained on October 27, 2026. Girard is next scheduled to appear in district court later today for arraignment before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.