Gray's Creek High School senior not allowed back at school, graduation after threat arrest

Joseph Pierre, Fayetteville Observer
Updated ·2 min read
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Editor's note: This is an updated version of the original story.

A student who was arrested at a Cumberland County high school Wednesday on allegations he made threats of mass violence was told by a judge Thursday that he could not return to the school.

"You're to have no contact with the school," District Court Judge Frances Britt told 19-year-old Dwight McCoy. "You're not going to be allowed to participate in any graduation activities."

McCoy, a senior at Gray's Creek High School, is charged with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property. He was also charged with malicious conduct by a prisoner, for allegedly spitting on a deputy, and malicious arrest.

According to the Sheriff's Office, several students and staff members alleged McCoy made a shooting threat.

He was arrested in the lobby of the school at 10:18 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Patrice Bogertey said.

The Sheriff's Office noted he did not have a weapon at the time of his arrest.

At McCoy's first appearance in court, Assistant District Attorney Holly Smith said photos of McCoy on Instagram show him holding weapons.

McCoy, who was out of custody Thursday after posting $20,000 bail, also learned that he would be on GPS monitoring and is prohibited from going onto educational property, accessing weapons or using social media.

When McCoy told the judge he was going to hire his own attorney, she asked if he was sure, and he turned and pointed to his father in the gallery and said, "I talked to my dad."

At the closure of the hearing, McCoy and his father were escorted to a room to have McCoy fitted for an ankle monitor.

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"We are grateful to the students and staff members who promptly came forward to ensure the safety of all individuals involved," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Threats and tips can be submitted anonymously through Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS-8477 or use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System to submit tips for follow-up by school officials and law enforcement at 1-844-572-9669.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County student not allowed at campus or at graduation