Police identify man accused of carrying butcher knife at Bruns Academy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bruns Academy was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning after a suspicious person armed with a butcher knife ran onto the school's property while students were headed to class, according to police.

[IMAGES: Man in custody after entering Bruns Academy with knife]

Police identified the man as Pascal James Moore. He is charged with having a weapon on educational property, going armed to the terror of the people, communicating threats, assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree trespassing and injury to personal property.

(Pascal James Moore)

A man who was dropping off his grandchild at school said he saw Moore come out from the woods near the west Charlotte charter school, holding a knife to his chest.

St. Clair Staley said he had just dropped off his granddaughter when he saw Moore with what he described as an 8- to 10-inch knife. He said students were getting off buses and walking into the school when he spotted the man.

CMS police say the ordeal may have lasted a few minutes. Surveillance video caught him walking to the front door before running away @wsoctv
— Brittney Johnson (@BrittneyWSOC9) May 3, 2017

“He comes from the back of the woods right here, and I done drop off one of my grandbabies. I don't know what he's thinking. All I know is I seen that big knife in his hand,” Staley said.

He said Moore ran toward the school with the knife, then toward his car, where he slashed a tire. Staley said he and a teacher called 911, and he reached for a stick that he carries for protection.

“I don't know what he's thinking. All I know is I seen that big knife in his hand,” Staley said. “My wooden stick, that's what I was about to get out and put on his head “

Officers said surveillance video showed Moore walking to the front door but then running away and hiding the knife. Police said they found the butcher knife on campus near some mobile classrooms.

Bruns Academy principal Mary Weston said that when the teachers went inside, the door locked automatically.

Police arrested Moore nearby a few minutes later.

Within minutes, police arrested Moore nearby.

“We got all students in the building. Those on the buses remained on the buses so we could secure the school and make sure everyone was safe,” Weston said.

The school was on lockdown for 90 minutes as police searched for the knife.

When they couldn't find it, Moore showed them where he had buried it between two mobile classrooms.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools police said Moore does not appear to have any connection to Bruns Academy.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent this message to parents at the school:

"We would like to inform you that this morning we were in a lockdown for approximately 90 minutes due to activities happening in the community. There was a person who attempted to gain access to the school; however, was apprehended. All scholars and staff are safe. We have resumed our normal schedule for the remainder of the day."

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group