A federal grand jury in Concord has indicted Kyle Hendrickson, 25, for threatening the Portsmouth High School on Snapchat, according to U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. Hendrickson has been charged with interstate threatening communications and possessing a firearm in a school zone.
The charges stem from a video that Hendrickson posted on his SnapChat account on April 12, 2023. In the video, he can be seen brandishing a handgun while in a vehicle outside of the Portsmouth High School. Accompanying the video is a text overlay that reads “imma shoot up the school.” Surveillance footage from the school confirms that Hendrickson’s vehicle was outside the high school at the time of the video.
Law enforcement officials found an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, camouflage body armor, a handgun holster, a red-dot sight, and multiple rounds of ammunition in Hendrickson’s vehicle. Additionally, a handgun resembling the one used in the SnapChat video was discovered near a motel where Hendrickson had stayed on April 12, 2023.
If convicted, Hendrickson could face up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge. The sentencing will be determined a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The investigation into this incident was led the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Portsmouth Police Department. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as well as the Somersworth Police Department, the Portland Police Department, and the Berwick Police Department provided valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case. It is important to note that the details outlined in the charging documents are allegations, and Hendrickson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: InDepth NH
