Larry Rodriguez
Larry Rodriguez, Program Coordinator for the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management, is leading an important initiative to protect children and families from the growing threat of domestic violent extremist groups. Through a Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant, Rodriguez and his team are working to educate Bexar County residents about violent online extremist networks attempting to recruit and manipulate children online. “We are working to alert parents to this threat and to keep children safe,” said Rodriguez.
According to Rodriguez, extremist groups are using
gaming and social-media platforms such as Roblox, Telegram, Discord, and others to identify and recruit vulnerable youth. These groups often expose children to graphic “gore content” designed to
desensitize them to violence and erode feelings of empathy. One such network, known as “764,” was created by a 15-year-old from Stephenville, Texas, inspired by the Satanic Cult, "Order of Nine Angles". Although the founder was later arrested at age 17 and is now serving an 80-year prison sentence, the network has continued to grow.
The FBI has identified similar extremist networks, including The Terraorgram Collective, Saints Culture, and No Lives Matter. These violent online networks are classified by the FBI as Nihilistic Violent Extremists. These groups are driven by a hate for society and want to bring about its collapse by creating chaos, destruction, and social instability through the manipulation of vulnerable youth to take violent action. To counter these threats, Rodriguez collaborates with school districts, charter schools, and non-profit agencies, encouraging them to share information with parents about online radicalization and grooming tactics. “Sometimes this content frightens people, and they hesitate to share it,” Rodriguez explained. “But the alternative is worse—children remain vulnerable to these threats without understanding the warning signs.”
Rodriguez emphasizes that parental awareness is the first line of defense. Parents should know how extremist grooming works, who is targeted, and what the red flags look like. Educating children to never share personal photos and to recognize manipulation can make a critical difference. Rodriguez also highlights the role of mental health, trauma, and social isolation in making young people more susceptible to online recruitment. “These groups count on the fact that kids don’t always feel safe going to their parents for help,” Rodriguez said. “Our goal is to change that.”
For more information or to setup training, call (210) 206-8555 or visit
www.saoemprepare.com/beinformed/domesticterrorism
