SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The United States Department of Justice says that on Thursday, federal charges were filed against 20-year-old Brian Richard Girardot Jr. of Sacramento for possessing a firearm within a school zone.
Court documents revealed that on February 18, 2026, Girardot, a former student of St. Mary Parish School, dropped off a younger relative at the school.
Authorities say that Girardot returned to the campus at around 9:30 a.m. and attempted to enter St. Mary Catholic Church during an Ash Wednesday mass while carrying a loaded firearm.
Additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket were located in Girardot’s vehicle, which was parked nearby.
After his arrest, authorities conducted a search of Girardot’s residence. During the search, law enforcement found a series of handwritten notes that were in a stack in his bedroom.
According to the Department of Justice, the notes contained references to both suicide and threats.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Sacramento Police Department are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is handling the prosecution.
The United States Department of Justice says that Girardot faces additional state criminal charges.
If convicted, Girardot could face up to five years in prison, though the sentence would be at the court’s discretion after consideration of any and all applicable factors.
The Department of Justice says that the charges against Girardot are only allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.