U.S. Attorney William S. Thompson | U.S. Department of Justice
Thomas McNeil Hedrick II, a 36-year-old resident of Charleston, West Virginia, has been sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison. Following his incarceration, he will serve 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 rifle was loaded with a 60-round drum magazine and equipped with a bipod. While inside the residence, Hedrick pointed the weapon at his girlfriend and others while demanding she leave with him.
Hedrick admitted awareness of his prohibition from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. He attempted to conceal the loaded rifle under his jacket during entry and exit from the residence. Surveillance footage captured these actions.
Federal law prohibits individuals with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. Hedrick's knowledge of this restriction stemmed from his previous conviction for wanton endangerment in Kanawha County Circuit Court on March 1, 2022. His criminal history includes convictions for domestic assault, violation of a protective order, possession of a controlled substance, and being prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentence and praised the investigative efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston delivered the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites various levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
Additional information about this case can be found through PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-56.
