A fistfight at a Michigan high school graduation escalated into a foiled mass shooting plot, leading to a search for a 20-year-old suspect, Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, currently on probation for a weapons offense. Authorities, including Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, reported that a threatening message about the ceremony was posted on Snapchat, signaling intent to shoot attendees. Though the exact wording of the post is unclear, witnesses indicated it implied harm to the crowd.
During the graduation at Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP), two suspects were involved in an altercation, with one later identified as a 19-year-old who also has a criminal history related to weapons. Both suspects were seen hiding items under cars in the parking lot when law enforcement arrived after calls about the fight.
Using surveillance footage from United Wholesale Mortgage, officers recovered two fully-loaded firearms: a pink AR-style pistol and a Glock semi-automatic handgun with high-capacity magazines. Sheriff Bouchard noted that the combined 80 rounds of potential firepower could have resulted in catastrophic harm at the event.
While it is uncertain whether the suspects were former students, they had connections to individuals at the graduation. The motive behind their actions remains unknown, and those involved in the earlier disputes have not cooperated with investigators. The 19-year-old suspect fled but was apprehended post-event. Bouchard urged Hardiman to turn himself in, asserting that law enforcement will locate him. Thankfully, the ceremony concluded without further incidents, and the school emphasized the safety of its attendees throughout the ordeal.
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