
A video that has rapidly spread across various social media platforms and amassed over 6 million views on one site alone has triggered an investigation by the Bel Air Police Department. Influencer Dan Hentschel, 28, appears to reminisce about his purported plans to carry out a school shooting at The John Carroll School in 2013, according to a Union-Bulletin report.
In the video, Hentschel, who resides in Los Angeles but was visiting Maryland, filmed himself on the school’s campus without authorization, enacting shooting motions with his hands and speaking about having brought an AK-47 to a homecoming game, the implications of which are being taken with the utmost seriousness by local law enforcement, especially in the wake of recent gun violence involving the area's students, CBS News Baltimore reported.
Hentschel, known for his satirical content, concluded his video in front of a statue of Jesus on the cross with a provocative statement before mimicking gunfire sounds, a detail that has heightened the alarm for authorities as well as the local community who recently suffered from actual incidents of gun violence claiming the lives of two students in 2024.
While Hentschel faces trespassing charges, additional charges are being considered as Bel Air Police have consulted with the county’s state attorney’s office. Hentschel had shared the police department's social media post regarding the incident with a caption that read, "Hey y’all I need a lawyer!!" and neither Hentschel nor his immediate family seems to have access to firearms, the John Carroll School informed parents via email and has increased patrols around school property for added safety, and yet, no representation for Hentschel has contacted the department as of this writing, per the Union Bulletin's coverage.
The John Carroll School, a private Catholic institution, and its chief advancement officer, Kathy Walsh, have declined to provide specifics about Hentschel's time as a student, citing data privacy policies. Hentschel himself has not responded to requests for comment on the developing situation.