What began as an ordinary arraignment near a Medford courthouse ended with a local hair stylist being led away in handcuffs — and a community asking how political violence and heated rhetoric spilled into public life.
Bethany Abigail Terrill, 37, was arrested after prosecutors say she screamed that she “loved” the assassination of Charlie Kirk and threatened to kill federal immigration agents who were carrying out an arrest.
The Arrest and the Charges
Terrill was taken into custody on Wednesday as part of a wider effort by authorities to crack down on people who make threats against law enforcement. Federal prosecutors have charged her with threatening a U.S. official.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 years behind bars. Court papers describe Terrill as having a noticeable forehead tattoo and a septum piercing.
What Happened at the Courthouse
According to charging documents, the incident happened on September 29 while Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were handling an arrest outside the courthouse.
As agents were handcuffing the person brought for arraignment, Terrill allegedly pushed through the scene, filmed the officers on her phone and shouted, “ICE is here, ICE is here” and “you guys are monsters, this is insane.”
As agents escorted the arrestee to a vehicle, prosecutors say Terrill yelled: “Charlie Kirk died, and we love it… we’re coming for you, gonna kill you.” She reportedly refused orders to step back and called the agents “Nazis” and “disgusting.”
The Video Evidence
Officials say they detained Terrill after hearing her comments and seized her phone.
The video of the confrontation, prosecutors say, captured the threatening remarks.
When shown the footage, Terrill allegedly doubled down, saying, “We are coming for you. We don’t like Nazis in America.” That recorded exchange is central to the government’s case.
A Wider Political Backdrop
The arrest comes amid a national uproar following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Kirk’s death has inflamed political debate, and some on the right have pointed to dehumanising language — including calls to label opponents “Nazis” or “fascists” — as contributing to a rise in politically motivated violence.
Government Reaction Abroad
The fallout has stretched beyond U.S. borders. The State Department reviewed foreign social media posts celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death and moved to revoke visas for several foreign nationals whose comments were judged to cross a line into incitement or praise for violence.
The list of those penalised reportedly included people from Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Paraguay — each singled out for particularly inflammatory posts about Kirk’s death.
Legal Consequences and What Comes Next
Terrill has been formally charged and faces a serious federal count. The maximum penalty — if convicted — is a decade in prison.
The case is now moving through the federal system, and Terrill’s legal team will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations in court.
For now, the incident has reignited debates about free speech versus threats, how authorities should respond to online and public expressions of violence, and how to keep law enforcement safe when passions run high.