Crime
One Suspect Arrested, Second at Large in Foiled Mass Shooting Plot at Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac
PONTIAC, MI – A potentially deadly mass shooting at a Michigan school graduation ceremony was averted thanks to a tip from the public and the swift response of law enforcement, officials announced Friday.
Authorities have arrested one suspect and are actively searching for another in connection with the foiled plot.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the incident unfolded on Tuesday, June 3, during a graduation ceremony for the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac, held at a local business in Pontiac.
Deputies were already on site responding to a physical altercation when a concerned individual approached them with a disturbing report.
“A person informed our deputies that a family member had seen a Snapchat post threatening to ‘shoot up’ the graduation,” Sheriff Bouchard said during a Friday press conference.
Based on that information, deputies initiated an immediate investigation.
Law enforcement soon discovered two loaded firearms equipped with high-capacity magazines concealed beneath vehicles in the parking lot.
Sheriff Bouchard stated that the quick response by officers “probably prevented a mass shooting.”
As part of the ongoing investigation, 19-year-old Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley was taken into custody.
A second suspect, 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, remains at large.
Authorities are urging anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact law enforcement or call 911 immediately.
Neither suspect is a student of the Arts and Technology Academy, which serves grades K-12, but both have personal or familial connections to attendees, Sheriff Bouchard noted.
The investigation suggests that both men were involved in “ongoing disputes with individuals in the community.”
“Both suspects have a documented history involving firearms and violent behavior,” Bouchard added, expressing concern about how close the community came to experiencing another tragedy. “This was disturbingly close to being another mass casualty event.”
The incident is especially alarming for Oakland County, where Oxford High School was the site of a 2021 mass shooting carried out by student Ethan Crumbley, which left four students dead and several others injured.
Bouchard emphasized the importance of public vigilance in preventing acts of violence. “If you see something, say something. That simple act can save lives,” he said.
While the Snapchat threat was seen prior to the ceremony, it was not reported to law enforcement until after officers had already arrived on scene in response to the unrelated altercation.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are working to determine the full scope of the suspects’ intentions.
Anyone with information regarding Jamarion Hardiman is asked to contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office or dial 911 immediately.
Crime
Jordan and Antoine Boykin: Two Brothers, 17 and 14, Fatally Shot in Gwinnett County, Georgia; Teen Suspect Charged
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia — A devastating shooting in Gwinnett County has claimed the lives of two teenage brothers, leaving their family, friends, classmates, and community facing an unimaginable loss.
The victims were identified as Jordan Boykin, 17, and Antoine Boykin, 14. Their deaths are being investigated as a double homicide, and 19-year-old Alexander Canela-Panchi has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting.
The brothers were found with gunshot wounds near the yard of their home on Heather Stone Way in Lawrenceville, according to the account provided. Their deaths have left their mother, Megan Boykin, and other family members mourning the loss of two young lives taken far too soon.
The shooting reportedly happened Wednesday night after neighbors heard multiple gunshots in the area of Heather Stone Way.
According to the information provided, Jordan and Antoine were discovered in the yard near their home with fatal gunshot wounds. Both teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their mother, Megan Boykin, was approximately 45 minutes away when she received a frightening call from her daughter, who reported hearing what sounded like around 10 gunshots.
Megan rushed home after learning about the incident, but by the time she arrived, both of her sons had died. The sudden loss of two children has left the family facing a devastating tragedy.
Investigators reportedly reviewed surveillance footage that showed a vehicle arriving in the area before the teenagers approached it. Gunfire followed shortly afterward.
According to police, Jordan and Antoine had arranged to meet Alexander Canela-Panchi to purchase vape cartridges. Authorities say an argument broke out during the alleged transaction before the brothers were shot.
However, the victims’ family has reportedly questioned that explanation and raised concerns about whether jealousy or a possible robbery may have played a role.
Those concerns have not been established as official findings. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain subject to the investigation and court proceedings.
Alexander Canela-Panchi, 19, has been charged in connection with the deaths of the two brothers.
According to the information provided, the charges include:
- Two counts of felony murder
- Two counts of aggravated assault
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- A narcotics-related offense
The charges represent allegations, and Canela-Panchi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Jordan and Antoine were reportedly students at Collins Hill High School. News of their deaths has deeply affected the school community, including classmates, teachers, and others who knew the brothers.
The school district declined to comment, according to the supplied account. Nevertheless, the loss of two young students has left many in the community grieving.
At 17 and 14, Jordan and Antoine were still growing up, building friendships, and looking toward the future. Their lives ended before they had the opportunity to experience many of the milestones that lay ahead.
For Megan Boykin and the rest of the family, the loss is especially painful. Losing one child is an unimaginable heartbreak; losing two sons in the same incident leaves a family confronting a tragedy that words cannot fully express.
Jordan and Antoine were brothers who shared a family and a home. Their deaths have left behind memories, unanswered questions, and an absence that their loved ones will carry with them.
As the investigation and legal proceedings continue, thoughts remain with Megan Boykin, the brothers’ sister, their extended family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy.
May Jordan Boykin and Antoine Boykin rest in peace, and may their loved ones find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time.