GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tuesday morning the US Attorney for the Middle District announced federal charges related to last December's incident at Smith High School where an accused gunman, Steve Spence, was arrested on campus.
Steve Spence was arrested at Smith High on Monday, Dec. 3. Police say he was carrying two guns, several magazines, and a backpack filled with boxes of bullets.
Spence is facing three federal charges now, in addition to several local charges including two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina Matt Martin said the three charges from the indictment are related to:
- Spence crossed state lines (Virginia into North Carolina) with a stolen car. A conviction could mean up to 10 years in federal prison.
- Spence crossed state lines with the intent to a commit a serious act of domestic violence and brandished two guns. A conviction means up to 10 years in federal prison.
- Spence brandished two weapons during his attended act of violence. A conviction carries a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison.
Court documents say Spence, a 29-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia, went to Smith High with the intent to kill two staff members. Spence was arrested by the tennis courts at the school after he went to the school's cafeteria through the open courtyard and pulled out two handguns.
New Guilford County Court Documents say shortly after Spence's arrest, he was transferred to Central Regional Hospital for a psych evaluation. The documents requested the transfer because "the defendant is likely suffering from schizophrenia, which allegedly resulted in him coming to Greensboro...with a loaded firearm."
Another document says in mid-February a doctor found Spence competent to stand trial, but that he has a mental illness.
"It’s real hard, because you know, I was proud of him as a little cousin being so successful," explains Kelvin Thorne, Spence's cousin.
Spence was a football player at East Carolina and his cousin says he was a role model.
"He wasn’t in his right mind ," Thorne tells. "I know that he’s not that person that they saw."
Martin said Spence is accused of stealing a 2015 Mercedes-Benz 350.
RELATED: Teachers on 'Hit List' Speak Out | Smith High Attendance Way Down After Man With Guns Enters School
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