Two people have been charged with weapons violations after loaded guns were found in the parking lot during a high school graduation ceremony in Pontiac last week. An alleged plan to shoot up the event is also being investigated, officials said.
Jamarion Hardiman, 20, of Pontiac, and Deahveon Whaley, 19, also of Pontiac, were each charged with carrying a firearm with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
They could face more charges if the alleged mass shooting threat can be verified and linked to them.
Previous coverage: Second suspect arrested in alleged mass shooting plot at Oakland County high school graduation
Deputies respond to fight at graduation ceremony
At about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, deputies responded to the United Wholesale Mortgage Sports Complex after receiving a report of a fight happening in the parking lot during a graduation ceremony being held at the facility.
After reviewing security footage, authorities learned that Hardiman and Whaley had entered the facility together and then Hardiman had assaulted an unidentified person.
UWM security intervened, and the two suspects and other individuals went outside, continuing to fight in the parking lot.
At this point, Hardiman and Whaley did not have weapons on them, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Fully loaded guns thrown under cars
Video footage showed Hardiman being hit by a car, “apparently without injury,” before the two men went back to their car.
Whaley grabbed a gun and put it in his waistband, and Hardiman grabbed a backpack, which authorities later learned had an AR-style pistol inside.
A short time later, the two men got out of the car while still in the UWM parking lot and were seen on video crouching behind and between parked cars.
Officials say they threw the guns under parked cars before they fled the parking lot. Both guns were fully loaded with extended magazines and chambered rounds.
During the investigation, someone at the event told deputies that another person had told her about a Snapchat message with a threat to shoot up the graduation ceremony.
“At present, law enforcement has not verified the existence of a Snapchat message or the identity of the person who allegedly saw it,” according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Whaley was arrested after fleeing the scene on Tuesday, while Hardiman was taken into custody Friday afternoon.
“Law enforcement has not been able to verify the existence of the Snapchat. Therefore, we are moving forward with the charges presented by investigators,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “This graduation event was disrupted by a fight that required a police response and, rather than walking away, it appears these defendants retrieved a gun. That’s unacceptable and we will hold them accountable.”
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be issued.
Hardiman and Whaley face up to five years in prison and/or a $2,500 fine on the charges of carrying a firearm with unlawful intent and carrying a concealed weapon. The possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony charge is punishable by a mandatory 2 years in prison, served consecutively with any other sentence, according to the prosecutor’s office.