Inset: Samuel Kendall (Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office). Background: News footage shows authorities searching Kendall’s home (WISN).
A Wisconsin man arrested in connection with an alleged parking lot shooting is now facing additional accusations after investigators say they discovered explosive materials inside his home.
Samuel Kendall, 25, remains held at the Waukesha County Jail after police accused him of firing a rifle at two people sitting in a car outside a Culver’s restaurant in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on June 12. According to a criminal complaint obtained by local ABC affiliate WISN, one victim reported being struck in the eye by what he initially believed was a BB gun. Investigators later said they recovered shell casings from a rifle at the scene.
As detectives worked the case, they identified the suspect vehicle as a silver Lincoln Town Car registered to Kendall, authorities said. When officers searched Kendall’s residence, they allegedly found evidence that he had recently sold a 300 Blackout rifle. Police also reported uncovering a stash of explosive materials in the home.
Investigators said the Culver’s incident was not the only gunfire reported in the area. Police had previously received reports that Flock safety cameras near the restaurant had been shot out. In a separate report, a couple told authorities they found bullet holes in the deck of their home. Police said .300 Blackout rifle shell casings were recovered at that residence.
The criminal complaint, also obtained by local newspaper The Freeman, says detectives learned that a DEA informant had reported buying firearms and 3D-printed automatic switches from Kendall. With law enforcement assistance, the informant allegedly purchased a .300 Blackout rifle from Kendall for $1,200 on July 10, along with ammunition that matched casings recovered from both the alleged shooting scene and the home struck by gunfire.
Kendall later allegedly sold the silver sedan to a buyer in Waupaca, Wisconsin, for $1,000. According to investigators, he also warned the buyer to avoid road cameras while driving the vehicle.
Police said they located Kendall at his workplace and arrested him on July 16. He initially denied involvement in the alleged Culver’s shooting, according to the complaint, but admitted firing at two Flock cameras before driving to the restaurant. Kendall allegedly told investigators he left the Culver’s parking lot believing another vehicle was following him and, while in what he described as a “panic paranoia state,” 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.
