Arheel's Uncle
Senior Reporter
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National Guard soldier accused of threatening to shoot up a Connecticut school
June 18, 2021
Jaebets Kayembe (Facebook)
Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
An Army National Guard officer is accused of threatening to shoot up a Stratford school.
Police said the soldier, 23-year-old Jaebets Kayembe, of New Britain, posted a photograph on social media holding an AR-15 with an optical sight while making the threat.
Stratford police and the FBI arrested Kayembe at the U.S. Army base in Windsor Locks Wednesday. He was charged with first-degree threatening.
“These are disturbing and serious allegations,” Assistant State’s Attorney Felicia Valentino said during Kayembe’s arraignment Thursday afternoon. She urged Superior Court Judge Ndidi Moses to set a high bond for Kayembe.
But Kayembe’s public defender, Dennis Salzbrunn, urged the judge to show leniency for his client. He said Kayembe has been in the National Guard for four years.
“I understand that what was posted is certainly alarming but he has no prior criminal record,” Salzbrunn argued.
Moses ordered Kayembe held in lieu of $60,000 bond and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
“If you make the bond you cannot possess any weapons,” the judge told Kayembe.
“Understood,” he responded.
The judge continued the case to Aug. 4.
“Corporal Jaebets Kayembe is a traditional member of the Connecticut Army National Guard with four years of service. We are fully complying with law enforcement as they look into this matter. Further comment on an active investigation would be inappropriate,” said Captain Dave Pytlik, public affairs officer for the Connecticut National Guard.
According to Stratford Det. John Therina, Stratford police on June 15 were notified by the FBI that the agency had received information of a threat made to a Stratford school on Snapchat.
Police said Kayembe had posted a photograph on the popular messaging app showing him holding the assault rifle on his lap with the caption: “Y’all ever heard of a black boy school shooter? I’m finna make history.”
Police said the FBI traced the source of the message to a home on Wiklund Avenue in Stratford.
A team of police and agents went to the address and saw a car registered to Kayembe parked in the driveway. An Army National Guard sticker was affixed to the car’s trunk. But police said they did not find Kayembe or any weapons.
Police said the woman told them that Kayembe had moved to New Britain.
In the meantime, police said they contacted the National Guard and were told Kayembe was currently in training at Fort Drum in New York. Police said they contacted Kayembe’s platoon leader who told them Kayembe had admitted posting the photo of the rifle and the threatening language but claimed it had been a joke.
National Guard soldier accused of threatening to shoot up a Connecticut school
June 18, 2021
Jaebets Kayembe (Facebook)
Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
An Army National Guard officer is accused of threatening to shoot up a Stratford school.
Police said the soldier, 23-year-old Jaebets Kayembe, of New Britain, posted a photograph on social media holding an AR-15 with an optical sight while making the threat.
Stratford police and the FBI arrested Kayembe at the U.S. Army base in Windsor Locks Wednesday. He was charged with first-degree threatening.
“These are disturbing and serious allegations,” Assistant State’s Attorney Felicia Valentino said during Kayembe’s arraignment Thursday afternoon. She urged Superior Court Judge Ndidi Moses to set a high bond for Kayembe.
But Kayembe’s public defender, Dennis Salzbrunn, urged the judge to show leniency for his client. He said Kayembe has been in the National Guard for four years.
“I understand that what was posted is certainly alarming but he has no prior criminal record,” Salzbrunn argued.
Moses ordered Kayembe held in lieu of $60,000 bond and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
“If you make the bond you cannot possess any weapons,” the judge told Kayembe.
“Understood,” he responded.
The judge continued the case to Aug. 4.
“Corporal Jaebets Kayembe is a traditional member of the Connecticut Army National Guard with four years of service. We are fully complying with law enforcement as they look into this matter. Further comment on an active investigation would be inappropriate,” said Captain Dave Pytlik, public affairs officer for the Connecticut National Guard.
According to Stratford Det. John Therina, Stratford police on June 15 were notified by the FBI that the agency had received information of a threat made to a Stratford school on Snapchat.
Police said Kayembe had posted a photograph on the popular messaging app showing him holding the assault rifle on his lap with the caption: “Y’all ever heard of a black boy school shooter? I’m finna make history.”
Police said the FBI traced the source of the message to a home on Wiklund Avenue in Stratford.
A team of police and agents went to the address and saw a car registered to Kayembe parked in the driveway. An Army National Guard sticker was affixed to the car’s trunk. But police said they did not find Kayembe or any weapons.
Police said the woman told them that Kayembe had moved to New Britain.
In the meantime, police said they contacted the National Guard and were told Kayembe was currently in training at Fort Drum in New York. Police said they contacted Kayembe’s platoon leader who told them Kayembe had admitted posting the photo of the rifle and the threatening language but claimed it had been a joke.
