Yesterday, a disturbing incident at Butler High School in Charlotte led to the arrest of a school staff member, who was identified as Justin Parker Moyer, age 37, after he was accused of bringing two pistols onto the school's premises, WBTV reports. According to the station, Moyer, who is listed as Butler's athletic director, was charged with having a gun on educational property, a serious violation of North Carolina law that strictly prohibits firearms on school campuses.
Further details emerged as Moyer was discovered to have been in possession of a .380 semi-automatic Glock pistol and a North American Arms .22-caliber Derringer found inside a fanny pack, an item left unattended in the school’s learning center, during a routine check by another employee who was trying to identify the bag's owner and upon seeing its contents immediately reported the discovery to the school principal; the ownership of the bag and the firearms was then admitted by Moyer, Queen City News confirms.
In light of the incident and despite Moyer holding a valid concealed carry permit issued in Cabarrus County, where he claimed the weapons were meant for personal protection, his actions have led to a felony possession charge. Moyer's arrest on August 7th and subsequent release, under a written promise to appear in court, have ratcheted up tensions just before the start of the new school year, which is set to begin on Monday, August 25th, and his employment status remains uncertain as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has not yet issued a statement regarding his current position, reports WBTV.
Local law enforcement initiated an investigation after another staff member reported the weapon on campus, highlighting the swift response from Butler High School's staff and the protocols in place for such potential threats, however, thankfully no students or staff were harmed since the incident occurred while most were on the outskirts of the campus engaged in activities, according to an affidavit obtained by Channel 9.
