The man who police said made a threat that led to the closure of all Portsmouth schools on Thursday has been identified.Police said Kyle Hendrickson, 25, was seen in a video posted to social media sitting in a vehicle in front of Portsmouth High School with a gun.Police said Hendrickson, who is known to frequent the Seacoast area and southern Maine, said in the video, “Imma gonna shoot up the school.”Police said criminal charges are forthcoming. Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said in a message to the community Wednesday night the police department notified him about the threat. McLaughlin said school officials and police were not in a position to feel that the threat was resolved, so they decided to close all schools Thursday out of an abundance of caution.”I just want to acknowledge the emotions of a moment like this. It can be laced with fear, anger and sadness. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe,” McLaughlin wrote in a statement. Read McLaughlin’s full statement here.FBI officials told WMUR they were aware of the threat and they were coordinating with law enforcement partners. Officials with the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, meanwhile, released a statement Thursday morning to say they were aware of the threat.”We continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to ensure that schools in New Hampshire remain safe,” HSEM officials said in a statement. “All threats are taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. Everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency.”
The man who police said made a threat that led to the closure of all Portsmouth schools on Thursday has been identified.
Police said Kyle Hendrickson, 25, was seen in a video posted to social media sitting in a vehicle in front of Portsmouth High School with a gun.
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Police said Hendrickson, who is known to frequent the Seacoast area and southern Maine, said in the video, “Imma gonna shoot up the school.”
Police said criminal charges are forthcoming.
Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said in a message to the community Wednesday night the police department notified him about the threat.
McLaughlin said school officials and police were not in a position to feel that the threat was resolved, so they decided to close all schools Thursday out of an abundance of caution.
“I just want to acknowledge the emotions of a moment like this. It can be laced with fear, anger and sadness. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe,” McLaughlin wrote in a statement.
Read McLaughlin’s full statement here.
FBI officials told WMUR they were aware of the threat and they were coordinating with law enforcement partners.
Officials with the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, meanwhile, released a statement Thursday morning to say they were aware of the threat.
“We continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to ensure that schools in New Hampshire remain safe,” HSEM officials said in a statement. “All threats are taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. Everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency.”
