American authorities have identified a fifth individual, a former United States Marine, allegedly connected to a foiled terrorist plot aimed at Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. The development marks a significant escalation in a case involving a radical domestic group.
Former Marine and Police Officer Arrested in Louisiana
Micah Legnon, aged 29, was taken into custody in Louisiana following accusations of conspiring to attack New Orleans. He is said to have affiliations with the extremist organisation known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF). Legnon previously served as a police officer in New Iberia.
According to an official affidavit, Legnon was reportedly observed on Friday loading a vehicle with items resembling an assault rifle and body armour. This arrest extends the investigation beyond the original four suspects detained in mid-December.
Desert Bomb Tests and Los Angeles Attack Plans
The court documents reveal that investigators uncovered Legnon's alleged participation in a group chat with four other suspects. Audrey Carroll (30), Zachary Page (32), Dante Gaffield (24), and Tina Lai (21) were arrested on December 12 after they were reportedly testing what were described as 'complex' homemade pipe bombs in the Mojave Desert.
The group, allegedly spearheaded by Carroll under the name 'Order of the Black Lotus', is accused of devising a plan to execute a coordinated terror attack across five locations in Los Angeles on December 31. The intended targets were reportedly two separate companies.
Broader Allegations of Planned Violence
Beyond the Los Angeles scheme, the affidavit states the cell also plotted attacks targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their vehicles using pipe bombs. These allegations paint a picture of a group planning multiple acts of serious violence.
The connection of a former Marine and police officer to an alleged domestic terror plot has raised particular concerns about insider threats and radicalisation within institutions. The case continues to develop as federal officials piece together the full scope of the group's activities.
