Alumnus admits to threatening to shoot up McKendree University

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A former student of McKendree University appeared in federal court Thursday to accept responsibility for sending threats to injure and kill students at the school.

Rustin A. Berkshire, 40, of Vincennes, Indiana, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communication with a threat to injure and one count of cyberstalking.

"Anyone threatening a mass shooting on campus should expect the full weight of federal law enforcement. We treat these threats with the utmost seriousness and act on them immediately," said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

According to court documents and information presented during the hearing, Berkshire admitted to sending messages on Sept. 3, 2025, to McKendree University stating he wanted to hurt students in a mass shooting. Having received several threatening messages, university officials contacted law enforcement, who responded to patrol the campus.

Berkshire's cyberstalking charge stems from related criminal conduct in which he harassed online and mailed threatening correspondence to a victim from September 2018 through September 2025.

"We consistently collaborate with our university partners to keep their campuses safe," said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. "Any threat aimed at students or educators is taken seriously and investigated without delay. This case underscores the importance of those partnerships and our shared commitment to preventing harm."

Charges for interstate communication of threat to injure and cyberstalking are each punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment. Berkshire's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2026.

The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation with assistance from the McKendree University Office of Public Safety and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.