A Mecklenburg County grand jury indicted Drew Andres Owens, 33, on five felony counts in March 2025 for allegedly communicating threats of mass violence against five Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) facilities. Owens was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on Aug. 22, three days before the start of the 2025-2026 school year on Aug. 25, according to jail records.
Owens has pleaded not guilty, and the cases remain pending. The charges stem from four alleged emails sent on Feb. 15, 2025, threatening West Charlotte High School, Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School, and Hawk Ridge Elementary School. A fifth count involves a mailed threat against Garinger High School, which referenced an armed student who was later determined not to be enrolled at the school, per court documents.
Bond Reduction and Release
Owens’ bond was reduced from $200,000 to $75,000 in May 2025, and he bonded out on Aug. 22. A former judge and attorney, Yolanda Trotman, noted that bond decisions consider factors such as flight risk, community safety, family support, mental health, and the likelihood of a conviction. Trotman emphasized that bond is not punitive but intended to ensure court appearances.
School and Law Enforcement Response
CMS issued a letter to parents at Hawk Ridge Elementary School, stating that school and district leadership were in close communication with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Police Department (CMSPD) and other law enforcement partners. The letter confirmed that Owens had been banned from all CMS properties.
According to the warrant affidavit, Owens’ father, Darryl Owens, a West Charlotte High School ROTC instructor, told police he believed his son was responsible for the threats. Darryl Owens also alleged that his son had harassed relatives and neighbors since being removed from the family home in 2021, sending unsigned communications threatening violence at multiple locations.
Legal and Procedural Context
The indictment alleges that Owens’ messages included threats to “slaughter staff and students.” The affidavit for the Garinger High School threat described a scenario involving an armed student, though school records later disproved the existence of such a student. The cases are currently pending, and no trial date has been set.
CMS has not publicly detailed additional safety measures implemented in response to the threats or Owens’ release. The district continues to collaborate with law enforcement to monitor the situation.