Man accused of threatening CMS schools released from jail days before classes start

CHARLOTTE — CMS students head back to the classroom on Tuesday, but Channel 9 learned the man accused of threatening to kill students at five different schools is now out of jail.

Investigators say Drew Owens laid out mass shooting plans for a few elementary, middle and high schools.

At 11:30 Saturday morning, Owens walked out of the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Now a lot of parents tell us they’re looking over their shoulders.

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“Is he going to show up at one of the schools? It’s not good,” said one parent. She was so afraid that she didn’t want her face shown. “I’m not going to feel at ease, I’m not going to pretend it’s OK.”

A year and a half ago, Owens threatened to shoot up five CMS schools: Garinger, West Charlotte, Ardrey Kell, Community House and Hawk Ridge.

He was arrested and the community was outraged by his $10,000 bond, so another judge raised it to $200,000 secured. That happened last February.

But in May another judge reduced the amount to $75,000 secured, low enough so that Owens could pay the bondsman’s fee.

“In this situation it’s confusing because he had a $200K bond,” the parent said. “He’s clearly a public safety threat, so what took the threat level down?”

There is not an answer to that question in the court paperwork.

Neighbors who live in the subdivision where he grew up are terrified. They claim that he threatened, intimidated and harassed them.

“It’s really unnerving for some of us,” said the parent. “We live in the area where he knows people and again it’s not positive, it’s scary.”

Neighbors are wondering how Owens managed to bond out.

According to a document hand written by him, he had a 401K. We don’t know if that’s where the money came from.

“He’s out and that’s it, and the rest of us have to deal with it and teachers have to go to school on Tuesday and deal with it,” the parent said.

Owens is on electronic monitoring. He’s been ordered to stay away from the schools.

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