2nd suspect behind Michigan high school graduation mass shooting plot to stand trial
PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - The second suspect charged in connection with a foiled mass shooting plot at a Metro Detroit graduation ceremony was bound over for trial Wednesday.
A judge made the decision during a preliminary examination for 19-year-old Deahveon Whaley.
The backstory:
Whaley and another man, 20-year-old Jamarion Hardiman, are accused of planning a mass shooting at the Arts and Technology Academy, which was held at the United Wholesale Mortgage sports campus in Pontiac on June 3.
Police were called to the ceremony after a fight involving the two defendants broke out, and from there, they managed to uncover and stop the planned shooting.
While investigating the fight, deputies were told about a Snapchat thread, which included threats to shoot up the graduation.
Suspects in foiled mass shooting attempt at high school graduation face judge for prelim
Two men accused of plotting a mass shooting at a high school graduation in Pontiac in the spring are due in court for a preliminary examination Monday afternoon.
Deputies got assistance from UWM security and were shown video of Hardiman and Whaley.
Hardiman assaulted an unidentified individual after he and Whaley entered together. After UWM security intervened, Hardiman, Whaley, and other individuals involved in the fight left the building, and the fight continued in the parking lot. The defendants were apparently unarmed at that time.
As seen in the video, Hardiman was then struck by a vehicle before both he and Whaley went to their vehicle and retrieved firearms.
The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said the suspects were seen on video crouching behind vehicles in the parking lot before leaving the loaded guns under parked vehicles. These firearms, an AR-style pistol with a round drum that included 40 rounds of ammunition and a Glock pistol with a 40-round magazine, were later retrieved by deputies.
It is unclear if either of the men actually made the threatening Snapchat message or if someone else was behind it.
Both men are now facing weapons charges.
Dig deeper:
Hardiman was bound over for trial Monday.
Both men are currently being held in the Oakland County Jail while their cases progress.
The Source: Previous FOX 2 reporting was used in this story.