Byram Hills Grad Gets 18 Months For His Part In Jan. 6 Riot

ARMONK, NY — A former Byram Hills student-athlete was sentenced on Tuesday for assaulting law enforcement officers and other charges related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The attack on the U.S. Capitol disrupted a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election.

Brian Gundersen, 28, who now lives in State College, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol.

The 28-year-old was found guilty of two felony charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers in November, following a stipulated trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan.

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Gundersen traveled from his home in Pennsylvania with his mother to Washington D.C., to attend a rally. Prior to his arrival in D.C., Gundersen asked on Facebook if anyone else was "going to DC on the 6th" and suggested, "we might be able to bum rush the white house and take it over."

On Jan. 6, 2021, Gundersen illegally entered the Capitol grounds, joining a mob of rioters climbing the Northwest Steps. At about 2:30 p.m., Gundersen climbed up to a window in the Northwest Courtyard, next to the Senate Wing Door. While there, he shouted at officers inside the Capitol building. At about 2:42 p.m., Gundersen joined a mob entering the building. He was one of the first rioters to enter the Capitol through the Parliamentarian Door. As rioters engaged in a confrontation with officers, Gundersen waved more into the door.

Gundersen then entered the Parliamentarian’s Office. While inside, he saw rioters ransacking the room, wrecking furniture, stealing, and throwing papers to the floor. He spent about eight minutes in the office and wrote a note while there, expressing mock remorse: "sowwy for damage," with a crying emoticon. Gundersen then continued moving through the building, being forced out by officers at about 3:07 p.m.

Gundersen then returned to the Northwest Courtyard and re-entered the Capitol. He was once again forced out by officers. He remained on the grounds, however, moving to the Northwest Terrace. There, he joined a mob that was confronting officers trying to clear that area. Gundersen then rushed an officer, hitting the officer with his arm. He was pushed back by another officer using a riot shield.

In the days after Jan. 6, Gundersen posted on social media, writing, "we all stormed the us capital and tried to take over the government," and posted a photograph of members of Congress taking cover during the attack on the Capitol, along with the message, "Look at these scared little bitches."

Federal law enforcement said that in the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.