Mass Shooting Plot Thwarted at High School Graduation: two Suspects in Custody
Arrests follow thwarted high school graduation mass shooting in Michigan.
In a chilling turn of events at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP) graduation in Michigan, two local residents attempted to turn a celebration into a potential massacre. The suspects, identified as Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, 20, and Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley, 19, were arrested by Oakland County authorities following an abrupt altercation at the graduation.
During a press conference on Friday, Sheriff Michael Bouchard shared details about the in-depth investigation that uncovered the planned attack. Hardiman, who is currently on probation for a weapons offense, had been the primary target of the search. He has now been located.
Whaley, the other suspect, is in custody, but his identity will remain undisclosed until charges are formally filed. Both suspects have a history of weapons-related offenses, according to Bouchard. Neither has been charged yet.
The disturbance began on Tuesday evening during the graduation held at the United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) sports complex. Deputies were called to the scene following a report of a fight, but a family member alerted them to a Snapchat post threatening to shoot up the ceremony. While the specific wording of the post is unknown, as it has been removed, witnesses reported that it hinted at the intention to target the crowd.
Upon arrival, authorities identified the two suspects, Hardiman and Whaley, as individuals involved in the fight. They also observed the suspects placing packages under cars in the parking lot. With the help of the UWM security team and their camera system, officials recovered two fully-loaded weapons at the scene. Each weapon had a 40-round magazine, amounting to 80 rounds of potential firepower for the intended shooters.
Previous disputes within the community are believed to have played a role in the attempted attack. Although the motive remains unclear, the two suspects are believed to have connections to the graduation and ongoing disagreements with individuals within the community. Despite the involvement of others in these disputes, they refuse to cooperate with authorities.
The school, in a social media post, confirmed that the brief physical altercation was quickly handled by staff and security, and the individuals were promptly removed. Fortunately, the ceremony continued without further disruptions, ensuring the safety of the graduates, their families, and attendees.
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- Despite being on probation for a weapons offense, Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman and Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley, the suspects of the thwarted mass shooting at the Art and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP) graduation, were planning a potential attack that could have escalated into a massacre.
- As the general-news surrounding the mass shooting plot unfolds, it is also important to note the ongoing investigation into pension fraud within local politics, a story that falls under crime-and-justice news.
