A man is facing serious charges after sending a series of threatening emails to Charlotte area schools, according to Mecklenburg County documents. Court records state the emails, sent to various educational institutions, communicated specific threats of mass violence at multiple schools, including West Charlotte High School, Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School, and Hawk Ridge Elementary School. The emails stated that the suspect, identified as Drew “David” Andres Owens, planned to carry out mass shootings at these schools in late February or early March. The threatening messages specified that Owens intended to kill staff and students at each location.
In one email, Owens claimed he would target West Charlotte High School, specifically threatening to kill an individual named “Darryl,” along with other students. Other emails outlined plans for mass shootings at Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School, and Hawk Ridge Elementary School, all with similar alarming details of planned attacks. According to court documents, the suspect’s father, identified as Darryl Owens, is the ROTC instructor at West Charlotte High School. Records state Darryl Owens was able to identify Drew Owens as the person who was reportedly sending the threatening emails, stating he believed it was in retaliation for being kicked out of the house back in 2021. Documents state that following the 2021 fallout, Drew Owens has reportedly been harassing family, neighbors, and other family friends. He’s been accused of sending several emails and letters to various neighbors, threatening to kill and shoot up different people and locations.
“Lately, Drew has begun to intensify his behavior by sitting out front of the neighbors’ homes and presumably watching the neighbors and went to Mr. Owen’s job [West Charlotte High School] and began taking pictures of his car, sending them to Mr. Owens to try to lure him outside,” the documents state. The nature of these threats led Charlotte-area school officials and authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the surrounding community. A statement released from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to Queen City News reads: “We are aware that our school was one of several receiving a threat and took appropriate precautions to ensure students and staff remained safe. We continue to cooperate with law enforcement and follow their guidance on what information we can share. Any reports of threats or perceived threats are a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Students in violation will be disciplined accordingly. Persons who make threats and who are not students may face arrest and prosecution under the law. If you or your child are aware of any threats, you are encouraged to report the threats to authorities, tell a trusted adult, or report it on the Say Something app. We ask that you continue to partner with us in creating a safe learning environment for all students by reinforcing the seriousness of threats and other situations that may negatively impact the school campus. As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. Thank you for your continued support.”
While Owens has been charged with multiple counts of threatening mass violence on educational property, the investigation remains ongoing. This case is due back in court in early March 2025.
