School threat suspect Kyle Hendrickson booked in Portsmouth, appears in federal court

CONCORD — Kyle Hendrickson made his initial federal court appearance Tuesday afternoon after being booked at the Portsmouth Police Department for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" Portsmouth High School.

The 25-year-old Berwick, Maine resident, was arrested by authorities Thursday, April 13 in Portland, Maine. He allegedly posted the threat a day earlier via a Snapchat video showing him with a firearm in a vehicle in front of the school in Portsmouth. He is facing a state Class B felony charge of criminal threatening with a firearm.

Hendrickson faces a federal charge of “transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another,” according to Jane Young, U.S. attorney for New Hampshire.

Hendrickson’s initial court appearance before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone on Tuesday in U.S. District Court came less than a week after his arrest.

The handcuffed Hendrickson appeared Tuesday in the federal court, represented by state public defender Dorothy Graham. The two acknowledged Hendrickson does not wish to continue utilizing court-appointed counsel and is in the process of gaining the services of an attorney.

Johnstone ordered his temporary detainment before Friday’s hearing. Hendrickson, who did not make any statements in court on Tuesday but acknowledged questions from Johnstone, will remain in federal custody until then.

The detention hearing for Hendrickson, who has not been indicted, will again take place in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire in Concord this Friday, April 21 at 11 a.m.

Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Lynch will preside over Hendrickson’s detention hearing.

A preliminary hearing in Hendrickson's case was also tentatively scheduled to take place Friday.

Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport said Tuesday his department picked up Hendrickson from Cumberland County Jail in Portland and booked him in Portsmouth Tuesday morning. Hendrickson’s arraignment on the state charge will be held either in person or remotely at Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood Thursday, May 18 at 12:30 p.m.

Hendrickson was released by Portsmouth police on personal recognizance bail but only so he could be transferred into the custody of federal authorities for his Concord court appearance.

Hendrickson’s federal charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, Young’s announcement states.

The Class B felony criminal threatening charge is punishable by 3 ½ to 7 years in jail.

Details of allegations against Kyle Hendrickson

Investigators allege Hendrickson posted the threat on Snapchat Wednesday, April 12. The video allegedly had a message reading: “Imma gonna shoot up the school.”

“School surveillance footage placed Hendrickson’s vehicle outside the high school at the time of the video. Law enforcement recovered an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, camouflage body armor, a handgun holster, a red-dot sight, and numerous rounds of ammunition from Hendrickson’s vehicle,” Young’s announcement reads. “A handgun that resembles the one used in the Snapchat video was also recovered near a motel where Hendrickson had stayed on April 12, 2023.”

Previous coverage:

• 'Terrifying' Portsmouth school threat has leaders calling for steps to keep kids safe

• Portsmouth school threat suspect had AR-15, more weapons, feds allege

• Portsmouth High School shooting threat suspect arrested after schools closed

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting his case.

Investigating Hendrickson’s case were the Portsmouth Police Department, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Somersworth Police Department, the Portland (Maine) Police Department, and the Berwick (Maine) Police Department assisted.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth school threat suspect Kyle Hendrickson appears in court