Evergreen man sentenced in federal court for multiple mass violence threats

Heather Willard
·2 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — An Evergreen man who threatened to “do a mass shooting” at three Colorado locations was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in the Department of Corrections on charges related to making those threats.

Kyle William Staebell, 34, pleaded guilty to making threats on Jan. 16, 2023, to commit mass violence at the FBI office in Denver, a Homeland Security office and a Colorado-based performing arts group, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

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Later that day, the FBI, Denver and Lakewood police departments and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Staebell for the threats.

Investigators learned that in the months preceding Staebell’s arrest, he had gone to each of the three locations in person, conducted online research and had a Molotov cocktail in his possession. Court documents stated that Staebell said he went to the performing art group’s building and entered through an unlocked door “because he wanted to conduct an orchestra with a Harry Potter wand that he claimed he had found.”

“Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, but when speech crosses the line into threats of violence, it becomes a crime,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said in the release. “Violence and threats of violence have no place in our society, and this sentence demonstrates our resolve to disrupt plots to commit mass violence and keep our communities safe.”

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The FBI asks that the public report suspicious or threatening behavior to local law enforcement or by calling 1-800-225-5324. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

According to court documents, Staebell used the FBI tip line to threaten an attack on the FBI Denver Division Office, and provided his real name in the form.

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