Latest news with #ArtsandTechnologyAcademyofPontiac
USA Today
17 hours ago
- USA Today
2 in custody after loaded, high-capacity weapons found outside graduation, sheriff says
2 in custody after loaded, high-capacity weapons found outside graduation, sheriff says The weapons found include what Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described as an AR-style pistol and a Glock semi-automatic handgun. Show Caption Hide Caption Are mass shootings accelerating in the US? Here's what we know. Can mass shootings cause more mass shootings? This is what the research says. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY Two people are in custody after sheriff's deputies in Michigan found loaded, high-capacity weapons in the parking lot of a high school graduation as a brawl unfolded on June 3. The weapons found include what Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described as an AR-style pistol and a Glock semi-automatic handgun. Both were loaded with 40-round magazines, including a drum and an extended stick, Bouchard said. The guns were not registered. Officials "probably prevented a mass shooting" in Pontiac, Bouchard said in a June 6 news conference. Sheriff's deputies were originally called out after reports of a brawl breaking out, but were told by an individual at the event that rumors of threats about a possible shooting were circulating on social media, according to Bouchard. Two people, ages 19 and 20, have been taken into custody, officials said. Neither was a graduating student but had disputes with others at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac, which had its graduation on June 3, at the United Wholesale Mortgage sports complex. The motive behind the incident wasn't clear, Bouchard said. In a Facebook post, the Arts and Technology Academy said a "brief physical altercation" took place inside the venue that was handled by staff and security. The people were removed from the event and the commencement continued without disruption. Afterward, the altercation continued away from the venue, the school said. As deputies investigated, they learned those in the fight had been seen placing a packages under cars at the sports complex's parking lot, Bouchard said. The package, a backpack, turned out to have a weapon, Bouchard said. Another weapon was also recovered. A yet-to-be named 19-year-old suspect was in custody and is expected to face charges. A second suspect, Jamarion Hardiman, 20, was also taken into custody. Hardiman was on probation for a weapons offense, Bouchard said. Oakland County experienced a mass shooting in 2021. Then, a 15-year-old student murdered four classmates and injured seven others at Oxford High School, about 20 miles away from Pontiac. Eduardo Cuevas of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Cedar News
a day ago
- Cedar News
Michigan Graduation Mass Shooting Plot Thwarted, One Suspect Arrested
PONTIAC, MI — Authorities successfully stopped a possible mass shooting plot at a graduation ceremony in Michigan, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced Friday. One suspect has been arrested, while a second remains at large. Michigan graduation mass shooting plot The potential attack was uncovered following a fight during the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac graduation on Tuesday. Deputies responded to the incident after receiving a tip about a Snapchat threat to shoot up the event. Law enforcement officers recovered two loaded guns with high-capacity magazines hidden under vehicles in the parking lot, preventing what Sheriff Bouchard called a 'probably prevented mass shooting.' 19-year-old Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley has been arrested in connection with the plot. Authorities are actively searching for 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, who remains a suspect. Neither suspect attended the charter school but were connected to individuals in the community through friends and relatives. Both have histories involving weapons and violence, according to Sheriff Bouchard. The sheriff expressed alarm at how close the situation came to becoming a tragedy, urging the public to remain vigilant and report any threats. 'If you see something, say something,' he emphasized. Anyone with information about Hardiman's whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 immediately.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
'Mass shooting' thwarted at Michigan high school graduation; 2 suspects arrested, officials say
What began as a fist fight at a high school graduation in Michigan on Tuesday could have become a mass shooting, officials said. Oakland County authorities now have two suspects in custody in connection with the attempt at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP) graduation, officials said on Friday. Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced in a press conference Friday afternoon authorities were searching for 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, who is currently on probation for a weapons offense. Hardiman has since been located. Another 19-year-old suspect is in custody, whose identity is not being released until charges are filed. Bouchard said the 19-year-old suspect also has a criminal history involving weapons. Neither suspect has been charged yet. Oakland County Sheriff deputies were initially dispatched at 6:40 p.m. to the graduation held at the United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) sports complex for a fight. A person approached deputies at the scene and informed them a family member had seen a threat posted on Snapchat to shoot up the ceremony, Bouchard said. Authorities are not sure of the post's specific wording, as it has been taken down, but witnesses said it was along the lines of "was going to shoot up the crowd," Bouchard said. The two suspects, both Pontiac residents, were identified as individuals who were part of the fight and had been seen putting packages under cars in the parking lot when authorities arrived, according to Bouchard. Working with the UWM security team and their camera system, officials recovered two fully-loaded weapons at the scene. Each weapon had a 40-round magazine. "So just those two weapons without changing magazines, had 80 rounds of potential firepower," Bouchard said. "Shooting into a graduation, you can only imagine the outcome of that." One of the suspects, who Bouchard did not specify, was carrying a pink, AR-style pistol with the loaded magazine in a backpack that was stashed under a vehicle when officers arrived. The other weapon recovered was a Glock semi-automatic handgun with a 40-round stick magazine. It is unknown if the suspects once attended the charter school, but Bouchard said they did have friends and relatives at the graduation and "ongoing disputes with individuals in the community." The sheriff said the motive behind the attempted shooting is unclear. The other parties involved in the disputes are not cooperating with authorities, according to Bouchard. "While a brief physical altercation did take place inside the venue, it was quickly handled by staff and security, and those involved were promptly removed," the school wrote in a social media post. "Thankfully, no one within the ceremony was harmed, and we were able to continue and complete our beautiful commencement celebration without further disruption." This article was originally published on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Oakland County Sheriff averted mass shooting at school graduation in Pontiac
The Brief The Oakland County Sheriff averted a mass shooting at high school graduation in Pontiac. Sheriff Michael Bouchard said one person is in custody while a second suspect behind the planned attack remains at large. The two suspects planned the attack at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac graduation. PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - The Oakland County Sheriff says deputies have arrested one person after averting a mass shooting at a high school graduation ceremony in Pontiac. Deputies are searching for a second suspect involved in the planning of the mass casualty event. What we know The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is searching for a 20-year-old man in connection with a June 3 plot to carry out a mass shooting at a graduation ceremony in Pontiac. Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman is sought by police in connection with plans to open fire on a crowd at the ceremony, which was held at an event venue owned by United Wholesale Mortgage. It was for the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac. A 19-year-old has also been arrested, but has not been arraigned yet. Both men allegedly placed packages under vehicles at the venue, which were later discovered to obtain two firearms containing 80 rounds of ammunition between them. Neither suspect is enrolled at the school, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Friday. Dig deeper Sheriff deputies were first dispatched to the venue after a fight broke out between individuals at the ceremony. Working with security at the venue, a preliminary investigation by police uncovered a larger plot. An individual approached police about information from a family member that a Snapchat message previously seen included a threat to shoot up the ceremony. "In our business, we call that a clue," Bouchard said. The details were relayed to police who later found packages underneath vehicles, each containing loaded weapons. One was an AR-style pistol with a round drum that included 40 rounds of ammunition. The second weapon was a semi-automatic Glock handgun with a stick magazine, also containing 40 rounds of ammunition. Both were unregistered. What we don't know Police did not identify the 19-year-old suspect currently in police custody. Bouchard was asked about a motive behind the planned attack, but only said that people "are quick to violence these days." "For whatever reason, they think is the solution, whether it's to go shoot up a school or house of worship, it's hard to figure out what a motive is these days," he said. They are still searching for Hardiman, asking anyone who sees the 20-year-old to call 911 immediately. He has a criminal history involving weapons offenses. The Source A media advisory and press conference from police provided information for this story.
2 days ago
Possible mass shooting at graduation thwarted; guns recovered, 1 suspect at large: Sheriff
A possible mass shooting plot at a Michigan graduation ceremony was thwarted, authorities said, and police are searching for one of the suspects who remains at large. The apparent plot was revealed after authorities responded to a fight that broke out during the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac graduation, which was held Tuesday at a business in Pontiac, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "A person approached our deputies and gave them information that a family member had told them that they had seen on Snapchat a threat to shoot up this graduation ceremony," Bouchard said at a news conference Friday. Authorities kept investigating and recovered two loaded guns with high-capacity magazines from under cars in the parking lot, the sheriff said. Law enforcement "probably prevented a mass shooting," the sheriff said. One suspect, 19-year-old Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley, has been arrested, Bouchard said. Authorities are searching for a second suspect, 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, the sheriff said. Hardiman and Whaley were not students at the K-12 charter school but were connected via "friends and relatives," the sheriff said, and they appeared to have "ongoing disputes with individuals in the community." Hardiman and Whaley "have a history of being involved with weapons and violence," he added. Bouchard said he's alarmed "how close it was, potentially, to being another mass shooting." Oakland County is home to Oxford High School, where teenager Ethan Crumbley carried out a mass shooting in 2021. The sheriff urged the public to share information about threats of violence. "If you see something, say something," he said. In this thwarted attack, "Someone saw that [Snapchat] post," Bouchard said, but deputies "didn't hear about it until after we had arrived on the scene" to respond to the fight. Anyone who sees Hardiman should call 911, the sheriff said.
