A Charlotte man indicted on five felony counts for allegedly threatening mass shootings at five area public schools was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on Aug. 22, just three days before students were scheduled to return to class. Drew Andres Owens, 33, had been indicted in March 2025 on charges of communicating threats of mass violence on educational property.
Owens has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which remain pending. Four counts allege that on Feb. 15, 2025, Owens sent emails threatening West Charlotte High School, Ardrey Kell High School, Community House Middle School, and Hawk Ridge Elementary School. Court documents indicate these emails contained threats to "slaughter staff and students." A separate indictment alleges a mailed threat against Garinger High School. According to the warrant affidavit, the mailed threat suggested a student armed with firearms would carry out the attack, though no student by that name was enrolled at the school.
Owens' father, Darryl Owens, a ROTC instructor at West Charlotte High School, reportedly told police he believed his son was responsible for the threats. The father stated that Drew Owens had harassed relatives, neighbors, and friends after being removed from the family home in 2021 and had sent unsigned emails and letters threatening violence. He also mentioned having previously obtained a restraining order against his son, which was later dismissed after a violation arrest.
In the case involving the four schools, Owens' bond was initially set at $135,000 secured with electronic monitoring in February 2025. A judge reduced this bond to $60,000 on May 1, 2026. The separate case for the Garinger High School threat carried a $15,000 secured bond. Owens was released after a professional surety posted the $60,000 bond on the Friday before his release. Court records show he satisfied the court-ordered pretrial bond conditions.
Owens' prior record includes arrests for resisting arrest and shoplifting, according to previous reports. The release has raised concerns among parents as the new school year begins. "Is he going to show up at one of the schools? It’s not good," one parent told WSOC. "I’m not going to feel at ease; I’m not going to pretend it’s OK." Another parent expressed confusion about the bond reduction, stating, "He’s clearly a public safety threat, so what took the threat level down?" It was not immediately clear if Owens has legal representation.
