Monday, October 12, 2026·Focal News

The Charlotte Focal

Charlotte's independent voice

Local

Two gun incidents reported at Charlotte-Mecklenburg school campuses on same day

Charlotte police are investigating separate incidents at Garinger High School and Charlotte Lab School on Friday. In the Lab School case, court records say a man tracked and followed his former partner onto campus before allegedly assaulting and threatening her.

Two gun incidents reported at Charlotte-Mecklenburg school campuses on same day
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are investigating two separate incidents involving firearms at school campuses that occurred Friday, Oct. 9, according to arrest records and court documents. An 18-year-old was charged with bringing a gun to Garinger High School, arrest records say. Details about that case were not immediately available. In a separate incident at Charlotte Lab School, police arrested 29-year-old Deon Leach after an alleged domestic violence confrontation in the campus parking lot around noon. The school is on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools property. Court documents say Leach put a tracking device on his former partner’s vehicle and followed her to the campus. He allegedly placed her in a chokehold and threatened to punch her. The records do not say whether he displayed the gun. Leach is being held in jail without bond and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday, Oct. 12. Domestic violence expert Bea Cote’ said the alleged pursuit and assault were concerning because the situation could have escalated. “He was not looking at barriers. He was not considering the repercussions of his behavior,” she said, adding that he appeared intent on reaching the woman. Police are investigating both incidents. The cases involved separate events at two CMS campuses on the same day.

More from The Charlotte Focal