Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Attack on Nashville Energy Facility

A Columbia man has pleaded guilty to two charges after planning and attempting to use what he believed were explosives to destroy a Nashville energy facility, according to WKRN. The Department of Justice reported that 24-year-old Skyler Philippi pleaded guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility. The charges stem from incidents that began in June 2024, when Philippi reportedly told someone he wanted to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA in or near Columbia. The following month, he allegedly discussed plans to attack several substations to cause widespread disruption. Officials said Philippi researched previous attacks on electric substations and concluded firearms alone would not achieve his goal. He then planned to attach explosives to a drone and fly it into the facility. During the investigation, he shared a manifesto with an undercover employee detailing his desire to target high-tax cities and his past affiliation with white nationalist groups. In September 2024, Philippi allegedly ordered explosives from undercover agents and participated in a Nordic ritual, stating it was “time to do something big.” He and the agents drove to the target site, and Philippi prepared to deploy the drone, which he believed contained explosives, before being taken into custody. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said Philippi had “hoped [to] cause a devastating attack on Nashville’s energy infrastructure” but was stopped by the FBI. Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division emphasized that Philippi’s plan could have disrupted power to thousands of homes and critical facilities, including hospitals. Philippi is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI Nashville Field Office continues to investigate the case.