Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard at a press conference on June 6, 2025 describing how deputies discovered multiple weapons around a Pontiac parking lot outside of a high school graduation.

Two people are in custody after sheriff's deputies in Michigan found loaded, high-capacity weapons in the parking lot of a high school graduation as a brawl unfolded on June 3.

The weapons found include what Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described as an AR-style pistol and a Glock semi-automatic handgun. Both were loaded with 40-round magazines, including a drum and an extended stick, Bouchard said. The guns were not registered.

Officials "probably prevented a mass shooting" in Pontiac, Bouchard said in a June 6 news conference.

Sheriff's deputies were originally called out after reports of a brawl breaking out, but were told by an individual at the event that rumors of threats about a possible shooting were circulating on social media, according to Bouchard.

Two people, ages 19 and 20, have been taken into custody, officials said. Neither was a graduating student but had disputes with others at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac, which had its graduation on June 3, at the United Wholesale Mortgage sports complex.

The motive behind the incident wasn't clear, Bouchard said.

In a Facebook post, the Arts and Technology Academy said a "brief physical altercation" took place inside the venue that was handled by staff and security. The people were removed from the event and the commencement continued without disruption. Afterward, the altercation continued away from the venue, the school said.

As deputies investigated, they learned those in the fight had been seen placing a packages under cars at the sports complex's parking lot, Bouchard said. The package, a backpack, turned out to have a weapon, Bouchard said. Another weapon was also recovered.

A yet-to-be named 19-year-old suspect was in custody and is expected to face charges. A second suspect, Jamarion Hardiman, 20, was also taken into custody. Hardiman was on probation for a weapons offense, Bouchard said.

Oakland County experienced a mass shooting in 2021. Then, a 15-year-old student murdered four classmates and injured seven others at Oxford High School, about 20 miles away from Pontiac.

Eduardo Cuevas of USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 in custody after loaded, high-capacity weapons found outside graduation, sheriff says

Reporting by Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press

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