- Sheneca Cowart, a teacher at The Academy of McCrory Lane, was arrested for allegedly threatening a colleague and students with a firearm and carrying weapons onto school property.
- Cowart was charged with assault, threat of mass violence at a school, and two counts of carrying a weapon onto school property.
- The incident led to the school being placed on lockdown, and firearms were recovered from Cowart’s purse and vehicle.
- Cowart denied making any threatening statements on the day of her arrest and claimed the threat was made on April 10.
- She has a background in Criminal Justice and Corrections and has worked at various establishments before joining The Academy of McCrory Lane in October 2022.
Newsypeople- Sheneca Cowart, a teacher at The Academy of McCrory Lane, was arrested on April 18, 2024, following allegations that she threatened a fellow teacher and students with violence.
The incident led to police being summoned to the school on Newsom Station Road at around 11 a.m. after receiving reports that Cowart had made threats involving a firearm. Upon their arrival, police found the school in a state of lockdown. Sheneca was observed ushering students into a closet within a classroom, a measure aligned with the school’s safety protocols.
Authorities were able to take Cowart into custody without incident. While she confirmed that she was not carrying a firearm at the time, she did disclose having one in her car parked nearby. A subsequent search by the police resulted in the discovery of a loaded handgun in her purse inside the classroom and an additional firearm in her vehicle.
Sheneca Cowart, 29, was arrested on charges including assault and threat of mass violence after bringing guns to The Academy of McCrory Lane. https://t.co/fftivbNFJY
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 19, 2024
Who Is McCrory Lane Academy Teacher Sheneca Cowart?
Sheneca Cowart, a 29-year-old teacher at The Academy of McCrory Lane, was arrested on April 18, 2024, following allegations of threatening behavior towards a colleague and students at the school. The incident began when police were called to the school on Newsom Station Road around 11 a.m. that day, receiving reports of Cowart threatening to use a firearm against a colleague and students. Upon arrival, officers found the school on lockdown and Cowart in a classroom with children, moving them into a closet as part of the school’s safety procedure. After securing the area, officers peacefully took Cowart into custody. She admitted to having a firearm in her car parked nearby but initially denied having a firearm on her. Police found a loaded handgun in her purse inside the classroom and another firearm in her car.
Sheneca Cowart was born on February 20, 1995, to her parents Rome Strong-Arm in the United States. She grew up in Alabama and attended Miles College, where she studied Criminal Justice and Corrections from 2014 to 2017. During her college years, she worked at McDonald’s as a Cashier Manager and also taught at Trena’s Daycare LLC. After college, she worked at SHOE SHOW, INC as an Associate Sales Manager for about 3 years. Then, from August 2019 to January 2023, she worked at Conduent as a Customer Service Manager and also at Dollar General as a Team Lead Manager. In October 2022, Cowart started working at The Academy of McCrory Lane in Nashville, Tennessee.
| Name: Sheneca Cowart |
|---|
| Age: 29 |
| Incident Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024 |
| Location: The Academy of McCrory Lane, Nashville |
| Charges: Assault, threat of mass violence at a school, carrying weapons onto school property |
| Details: Threatened to shoot a colleague, made threats against the school, declared intention to “retrieve a firearm,” expressed desire to “shoot up” the school, carried two firearms (one in her purse and one in her vehicle), led to preschool lockdown, charged and held on a $37,000 bond before being released on the same night |
Cowart is happily married to Lawrence Ware Sr., whom she met while they were both at Miles College. They married on October 14, 2014, and have three children together. Lawrence is from Nashville, Tennessee, and works as a Grill Master and Head Foot Masseuse at Jones’ Good Ahh BBQ and Foot Massages.
During interviews with authorities, employees reported hearing Sheneca Cowart make alarming statements about the school. According to an affidavit, one person heard Cowart talk about shooting up the school and keeping a gun with her. Another teacher confirmed hearing similar threats, like “When I start shooting, you better run.” Police stated that Sheneca admitted to making a threat to shoot a teacher in the kneecaps, claiming it wouldn’t be fatal. However, she said this happened on April 10 and denied making any threats on the day of her arrest. She also said she wouldn’t leave her classroom to get her gun.
Following her arrest, Sheneca Cowart faced several charges according to officials. These charges include assault, two counts of carrying a weapon onto school property, and a threat of mass violence at a school. She was held on a $37,000 bond before being released from jail on Thursday night.
Sheneca Cowart Case Update
Sheneca Cowart was arrested by the Nashville Metro Police Department following a series of alarming incidents. The daycare center was placed on lockdown after Cowart allegedly threatened students and another employee, leading to a tense situation that required the intervention of the Rapid School Safety Team. Witnesses reported that Cowart made threats against another teacher and the school following an argument, including claims of having a firearm and threatening to “retrieve a firearm” and “shoot up” the daycare.
The police recovered a handgun from Cowart’s purse and a second firearm from the driver’s side of her car. Cowart was charged with assault, threat of mass violence at a school, and two counts of carrying a weapon onto school property. The charges were based on the police’s findings and the testimonies of witnesses who heard Cowart making threats, including statements like “When I start shooting, you better run” and claims of having a gun “on her.”
Despite the serious allegations, Cowart denied the claims made against her, asserting that she did not have a gun on her and that she did not make any threatening statements on the day of the incident. The police report obtained by WSMV, which detailed Cowart’s denials, highlighted the complexity of the situation and the need for further investigation.
Cowart was held by Nashville Metro Police in lieu of a $37,000 bond, pending the resolution of the case. It was not immediately clear if she had legal representation to comment on her behalf. The case is set to proceed in court, with Cowart due to appear on May 10, according to Davidson County Criminal Court clerk records. The outcome of the case, including any potential plea agreements or the involvement of an attorney of record, remains to be seen as the legal process unfolds.
The incident at The Academy of McCrory Lane underscores the importance of maintaining a safe and secure environment for students and staff in educational institutions. The allegations against Cowart, if proven, would not only have severe implications for her but also for the broader community, highlighting the need for vigilance and swift action in addressing such threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Sheneca Cowart’s Background?
Sheneca Cowart was born on February 20, 1995, to her parents Rome Strong-Arm in the United States. She grew up in Alabama and attended Miles College, where she studied Criminal Justice and Corrections from 2014 to 2017. During her college years, she worked at McDonald’s as a Cashier Manager and also taught at Trena’s Daycare LLC. After college, she worked at SHOE SHOW, INC as an Associate Sales Manager for about 3 years. Then, from August 2019 to January 2023, she worked at Conduent as a Customer Service Manager and also at Dollar General as a Team Lead Manager. In October 2022, Cowart started working at The Academy of McCrory Lane in Nashville, Tennessee.
Q2. What Happened on the Day of the Incident?
On April 18, 2024, police were called to The Academy of McCrory Lane on Newsom Station Road around 11 a.m. due to reports of Cowart threatening to use a firearm against a colleague and students. When officers arrived, they found the school on lockdown. Sheneca was seen in a classroom with children, moving them into a closet as part of the school’s safety procedure. After securing the area, officers peacefully took Cowart into custody. She admitted to having a firearm in her car parked nearby but initially denied having a firearm on her. Police found a loaded handgun in her purse inside the classroom and another firearm in her car.
Q3. What Charges Were Filed Against Sheneca Cowart?
Following her arrest, Sheneca Cowart faced several charges according to officials. These charges include assault, two counts of carrying a weapon onto school property, and a threat of mass violence at a school. She was held on a $37,000 bond before being released from jail on Thursday night.
Q4. What is the Current Status of Sheneca Cowart?
As of the latest reports, Sheneca Cowart is facing legal consequences for her actions. She was arrested and charged with the aforementioned offenses, and her case is currently under investigation.
