Inset: Samuel Kendall (Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office). Background: News footage of a search at Kendall’s residence (WISN).
A man from Wisconsin has been embroiled in a double whammy of legal troubles, including accusations of a shooting and possessing explosive materials at his residence.
Samuel Kendall, aged 25, is currently held at Waukesha County Jail following reports that he allegedly discharged a rifle at two individuals in a car parked at a Culver’s parking lot in Menomonee Falls on June 12. According to a criminal complaint accessed by WISN, a local ABC affiliate, one victim claimed they were struck in the eye by what they perceived as a BB gun. Investigators uncovered shell casings from a rifle at the parking lot scene, bolstering the accusations.
Delving deeper into the investigation, authorities traced the suspect vehicle to a silver Lincoln Town Car registered under Kendall’s name. During a warranted search of his home, law enforcement officials reportedly unearthed evidence linking him to the recent sale of a 300 Blackout rifle. In a startling turn, they also discovered explosive materials allegedly in his possession.
The police investigation was further fueled by earlier reports involving vandalized security cameras near the Culver’s site, which were found shot out. Adding to the mounting evidence, a report from a couple revealed bullet holes scattered across their deck at home, where authorities also recovered .300 Blackout rifle shell casings.
According to the criminal complaint, which was also obtained by local newspaper The Freeman, police detectives learned that an informant for the DEA had reported buying firearms and 3D-printed automatic switches from Kendall. With assistance from authorities, the informant purchased a .300 Blackout rifle from Kendall for $1,200 on July 10, along with ammunition that matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting and the home that was allegedly shot at.
Kendall then reportedly sold his silver sedan to someone in Waupaca, Wisconsin, for $1,000 and told the buyer to avoid road cameras while driving it.
Police said they tracked Kendall down at his workplace, where they took him into custody on July 16. Kendall initially denied any involvement with the alleged shooting at Culver’s, but admitted to shooting at two Flock cameras before driving to the Culver’s. According to the complaint, Kendall told police that he left the Culver’s parking lot and believed a car was chasing him. He claimed that while “in a panic paranoia state,” he fired at the ground in front of the car as a warning.
Authorities then executed a search warrant at three different locations, including at Kendall’s home. In Kendall’s bedroom, FBI agents found several materials that they said “can be expeditiously assembled to create a device consistent with an IED and explosives.” The materials included switches, circuit boards for radio-controlled switches, powder, ball bearings, fireworks, digital timers, potassium nitrate, and sulfur powder. Agents also allegedly found journals containing diagrams and instructions on how to assemble explosive devices.
When police spoke to Kendall’s sister, she told them her brother had “anti-government and antipolice sentiments since childhood and he was paranoid about law enforcement.” Kendall’s mother reportedly described her son as a “conspiracy theorist.” Police said Kendall’s father confirmed that his son had recently sold a 300 Blackout rifle.
Kendall was charged with four counts of recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of possession of improvised explosives.
He is being held on $250,000 cash bail. His next court date is scheduled for July 24.