Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


Quick intervention by Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies is said to have prevented what could have been a mass shooting at a Pontiac high school graduation on Tuesday.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard said today that information deputies received shortly after they arrived at the UWM Sports Complex on South Boulevard on Tuesday suggested that the potential for a mass tragedy was averted. During the investigation, deputies were made aware of a post on social media that stated that shots were going to be fired into the crowd attending the graduation ceremony. According to the venue, approximately 1,350 people had registered to attend the ceremony.

Bouchard said “I am very proud of the swift teamwork of our deputies and the security of the sports complex that I believe averted a potential mass shooting. The nearly 80 rounds the suspects possessed being fired into a graduation is too terrible to imagine and thankfully was prevented. These two individuals already have been involved with the criminal justice system for weapons offenses, and they need to be held fully accountable. We cannot accept individuals that carry and use firearms illegally. The message must be clear: if you do this, you will serve real time.”

Deputies had been dispatched to break up a disturbance between a few males at the event. Neither were students at the Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac, which was holding its graduation at the sports complex.

Deputies discovered two loaded firearms that were recovered at the scene, pictured. A loaded 9 mm semi-automatic AR style handgun with a 40-round drum magazine was found in a backpack that was hidden by one of the suspects. A second firearm with an extended 40-round stick magazine connected to the second suspect was located under another vehicle in the parking lot.

Two Pontiac men have been arrested in connection with the incident. One suspect, age 19, was arrested Wednesday. The second suspect, Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, 20, was arrested Friday within hours of being identified by the sheriff as being dangerous and wanted for questioning in the incident.

The sheriff said deputies and security at the sports complex staff averted what could have been a horrific shooting.

The original altercation began between two males in a venue bathroom during the graduation. UWM security broke up the fight and instructed the combatants to leave. The two resumed the fight in the parking lot, prompting complex security to summon sheriff’s deputies to assist in monitoring the graduation ceremony. Deputies arrived and with further investigation, it was discovered that two males had placed items under vehicles parked in the lot.

The Office says the ongoing case will be presented to the prosecutor for charges.