20-year-old Christopher Enrique Avelar of Mooresville was arrested Thursday (October 19) by Iredell County Sheriff’s Officers. He’s charged with four counts of communicating a threat of mass violence on education property.

On Wednesday (October 18) at approximately 10:30 p.m., several Iredell County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers began receiving text messages regarding threats of violence at West Iredell High School, Lake Norman High School, The Brawley School, and Lakeshore Middle School. These threats were forwarded to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Threat Assessment Detectives, who immediately began investigating them.

Detectives quickly determined the threats that were sent were made by Christopher Enrique Avelar and arrest warrants were obtained for the suspect. He was arrested early Thursday morning at his home then taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.

Avelar was already facing charges in Iredell County including one felony count of larceny by employee, single misdemeanor counts of going armed to the terror of people, carrying a concealed gun, and communicating threats, and two misdemeanor counts of making a harassing phone call,

As of earlier today (October 20), Avelar remained in custody. Per the judge’s order, he was to remain in custody until he was released to a family member. Avelar is scheduled to appear in District Court November 7 on the charges filed Thursday. He’s also scheduled to appear in Iredell County District Court November 14.