Charlotte man accused of mass shooting threats at 5 schools released days before classes begin

A Charlotte man indicted on five felony counts accusing him of threatening mass shootings against five area public schools was released from jail just three days before students were scheduled to return to class. Drew Andres Owens, 33, was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, according to jail records. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students were scheduled to return on Aug. 25. A Mecklenburg County grand jury indicted Owens in March 2025 on five counts of communicat