Thomas McNeil Hedrick II, a 36-year-old resident of Charleston, West Virginia, has been sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison. This will be followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Court documents reveal that on November 26, 2023, Hedrick entered a residence in Shrewsbury armed with a Ruger model AR-556 semi-automatic rifle. The weapon was loaded with a 60-round drum magazine and equipped with a bipod. During the incident, he pointed the rifle at his girlfriend and others while demanding that she leave with him.
Hedrick admitted in court that he was aware of his prohibition from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction for wanton endangerment in Kanawha County Circuit Court on March 1, 2022. He also confessed to attempting to conceal the loaded rifle under his jacket when entering and leaving the residence. Surveillance footage captured his actions during the incident.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Hedrick's criminal history includes previous convictions for domestic assault, violation of a protective order, possession of a controlled substance, and being a person prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing and praised the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Further information about this case can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-56.