Lawyer Found With AR-15 Arrested For Threatening To Kill Democratic Senators

He arrested on Inauguration Day with guns and ammo.

On Inauguration Day, January 21, 2021, Pennsylvania attorney Kenelm L. Shirk III, 71, was arrested at a gas station en route to Washington, D.C., by state police. According to police documents, Shirk was found with an AR-15 rifle, two handguns, a large amount of ammunition, rope, and gloves. He’s been charged in federal court for terroristic threats to murder members of the United States Senate.

The search for Shirk reportedly happened when his wife sought his involuntary commitment, indicating he’d threatened to kill both her and elected officials. According to ABA Journal, after he was arrested, Shirk was brought to a hospital for an evaluation where he allegedly included murdering the government officials on his to-do list:

Police took Shirk to a hospital for a mental health evaluation after his arrest. At the hospital, Shirk allegedly made a statement to the effect that he would kill his wife, “but not today.” He allegedly told one nurse that he planned to drop off a present for his granddaughter at his son’s house, and he had to leave early so he could reach the homes of government officials before they left for work. He also allegedly said he would shoot the officials in their front yards.

A nurse also reported finding miniature crosses on Shirk, “almost as if [he] intended to leave them at his crime scene.”

At the time of his arrest, Shirk was the solicitor for the Akron borough in Lancaster, PA.

Shirk’s lawyer, Jay Abom, maintains his client never intended any violence: “Despite appearances and accusations, he never intended to hurt or kill anyone.”


Sponsored

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored