CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte prep school student is now accused of making a threat to shoot students during graduation ceremonies.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said 18-year-old Jacob Tyler Lawlor reportedly threatened to shoot Bradford Preparatory School students during the ceremony. CMPD said he reportedly made the threat while on school property and is now charged with communicating a threat of mass violence on education property.
The graduation ceremony, which took place at 7:20 p.m. Thursday at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis, saw a police presence according to the Kannapolis Police Department.
Parents at the graduation shared their thoughts and concerns.
“With what’s happened recently you have to think anything is legitimate," parent Stuart Miller said. ”There was some concern, but I felt like Bradford would handle it in the right way and get police involved and handle the threat.”
The school told WCNC Charlotte they were aware of the arrest and deferred further questions to CMPD.
As of Thursday evening, WCNC Charlotte is told Lawlor remains in custody at the Mecklenburg County jail.
The threat of violence against Bradford Prep comes on the heels of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. On Wednesday, loved ones laid Irma and Joe Garcia to rest. Irma Garcia was killed during the Uvalde shooting, and her husband Joe died of a heart attack two days later.
The Uvalde shooting -- along with other mass shootings like the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York -- have sparked the gun control debate once again. A panel in the U.S. House of Representatives is taking up a gun bill that, if passed, would raise the age limit for purchasing certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. It would also restrict access to high-capacity magazines.
Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
Contact Briana Harper at bharper@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.