PONTIAC, Mich. – One of the men charged after an alleged plan to shoot up a high school graduation ceremony in Oakland County has pleaded guilty to all charges.
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Jamarion Hardiman and Deahveon Whaley were each charged with carrying a firearm with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon.
Hardiman initially pleaded not guilty, then pleaded guilty as charged on Tuesday, Feb. 24. He is expected to be sentenced April 14.
Whaley is scheduled to return to court March 3.
According to authorities, Hardiman and Whaley planned to open fire during the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac graduation in June 2025. The plan was reportedly foiled when Oakland County deputies arrived at the facility.
The two reportedly came to the graduation ceremony at the UWM Sports Complex and quickly got into a fight, with Hardiman allegedly punching a young man inside.
The fight moved to the parking lot, where Hardiman was reportedly hit by a car, after which both men went to their vehicles to retrieve weapons.
Two guns, each with 40-round magazines, were found as a threat to shoot up a high school graduation ceremony was being investigated. (Oakland County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators said Whaley took a Glock and Hardiman grabbed a backpack containing an AR‑style pistol; video shows them in the parking lot crouching between cars, then throwing the loaded guns under vehicles before fleeing when law enforcement arrived.
Both men were taken into custody. Whaley was arrested at the scene, and Hardiman was taken into custody three days later.
Authorities said both had friends and family at the ceremony and were involved in ongoing disputes with people there, and that neither man was a student.
While deputies were investigating the fight, someone at the graduation ceremony reported an alleged threat to shoot up the event on Snapchat.
Authorities were unable to verify the alleged Snapchat threat.
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