Key takeaways:
- Joshua Hensley, 25, of Kansas was arrested and charged with two counts of transmitting an interstate threat for allegedly threatening a mass shooting at Nashville Pride.
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee stated that the Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-based threats of violence.
- Hensley is currently being held in federal custody and if convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee announced that Joshua Hensley, 25, of Kansas, had been arrested and charged with two counts of transmitting an interstate threat. The charges stem from an incident on April 26, when Hensley allegedly commented on a sponsored Facebook post for Nashville Pride with a slur against the LGBTQ community and threatened to “make shrapnel pressure cooker bombs” and “commit a mass shooting” at the June event.
According to the statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hensley — also known as “Josh Echo” — was arrested by FBI agents on Thursday. U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis said in a statement that the Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-based threats of violence designed to intimidate Tennesseans.
“The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Espenshade. “We will continue to work with our partners at the FBI to investigate and prosecute those who threaten violence in our communities.”
Nashville Pride is an annual event that celebrates the LGBTQ community and its allies. It is scheduled to take place from June 5-7. The event’s organizers have not yet commented on the arrest of Hensley.
Hensley is currently being held in federal custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 10. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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