GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Grand Rapids man who told investigators he empathized with mass killers is charged with lying about renting an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in violation of a judge’s order.

The 24-year-old recently appeared in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids on the charge -- one count of making a false statement to a federal officer. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press is not naming the man at this time because he hasn’t been arraigned on the charge, which carries up to five years in federal prison.

The following narrative is from federal agents in the criminal complaint supporting the charge:

Investigators had on-and-off contact with the man ever since he was denied entry into Canada on Aug. 29, 2018 for not presenting his U.S. Passport.

Border agents found the man had notes on constructing remotely-detonated explosive devices and, after a search of his laptop, found he had conducted “a pattern of repeated searches” related to mass killers, their victims and how to construct explosive devices.

Asked by agents about his views mass killings, the man stated “although he felt sympathy for victims of such events, he also felt empathy for people who committed such acts because they must have their reasons and he felt isolated and maligned by society.”

He described himself as friendless and stated “he typically spent his days in his room with the blinds drawn surfing the internet.” He told agents he had construction two remote-activation devices in his bedroom at his aunt’s house.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation then opened an investigation into potential bomb-related offenses and searched his bedroom the following day, finding partially-constructed bomb triggering devices that appeared to be built following instructions from an online Al Qaeda publication.

About a month later, in early October, the man attempted to buy a pistol in Grand Rapids. The sale was delayed after a background check because of the FBI’s open investigation.

Investigators interviewed him the day after the attempted purchase, asking why he wanted to buy a firearm.

He told them he “wanted to acquire one because he did not want to feel that he was inferior to people that did own firearms, and that if he had obtained one he would have buried it in his aunt’s backyard.”

He again expressed to investigators he felt isolated and left out, “that everyone else has a life and he does not.”

In February, he attempted twice more to purchase a handgun. He was again delayed when retailers ran background checks.

Agents followed up about a week later, and the man told them he wanted a gun for self-defense and to protect his aunt’s home. He also said he spends too much time on the computer “watching people live their lives,” and that he feels unable to live a normal life.

When talking about mass shooters, agents noted he went from “despondent” to “happy and animated.”

“He stated that he gets excited reading about mass shootings, and that this is why he spends significant time online searching out stories about mass shooters, their families, and the victims and victims’ families,” the complaint states. “(He) expressed the view that mass shooters are likely angry, and that they feel stuck in their lives and jealous of other people.”

He promised agents, at their request, he wouldn’t purchase a handgun and would instead see psychologist.

About a week later he purchased a handgun, telling agents he got tired of renting a gun to shoot. He voluntarily surrendered his gun to agents. They later petitioned him for mental health services.

While hospitalized, his caseworker noted “(he) has been struggling with depression, hopelessness and thoughts of hurting others” and should remain hospitalized.

He was released from hospitalization on March 21 on court order to continue outpatient treatment, take his medications and not possess a firearm. The court found he presented a “substantial risk” of harm to himself and others.

On April 17 he traveled to an Ann Arbor gun range and store where he rented an AR-15 and paid for a lesson on how to use it. FBI agents learned about this while he was there and told employees he was on a mental-health order barring him from using firearms.

Employees made up an excuse to cut his range time short, and he left with plans to come back later. He went to a different gun store where he inquired about ammunition used by the AR-15.

He then traveled into Ohio and stayed the night near another gun store with a range.

Michigan State Troopers picked him up on April 19 on a detainment order for violating the court order. He had a notebook with him that detailed directions and contacts of several gun stores in Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio.

“... (His) escalating conduct indicated that he was a public safety threat,” an agent wrote.

When asked why he traveled the state to go to gun stores and what he did there, he denied handling or firing any guns.

His next court appearance is scheduled for May 8.