Man Faces Terror Charges After Kenosha Kwik Trip Confrontation

SOMERS, WI — A Kenosha 19-year-old is facing 16 charges of making terrorist threats after he confronted a Somers Kwik Trip employee with an airsoft rifle on Monday, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and court records.

Jonathan Petersen was charged Wednesday in Kenosha County Court, online records show. According to a news release from the sheriff's department, he entered the Kwik Trip in the 5800 block of 31st Street and confronted an employee whom he had previously worked with at a grocery store.

Petersen carried an airsoft rifle into the store and threatened the employee, saying he would shoot her if people came near, according to the sheriff's department. It was after the encounter that authorities discovered the apparent weapon was a realistic-looking airsoft rifle, the sheriff's department said.

When deputies got to the store around 1:20 p.m., they got Petersen to drop the rifle, but then he held a knife to his own neck, the sheriff's department said. Deputies tased and arrested him, and nobody was injured, according to the department.

Petersen is also facing a charge of violating a restraining order. He is expected in court again for a preliminary hearing on June 23, online records show.

RELATED: Man Threatened Kenosha Kwik Trip Worker With Airsoft Rifle: Sheriff