Oakland County Prosecutor Charges Two Men Involved In Pontiac Graduation Fight With Weapons Violations

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025

PONTIAC, Mich. - Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD has charged both Jamarion Hardiman, a 20-year-old resident of Pontiac, and Dhaeveon Whaley, a 19-year-old resident of Pontiac, with one count each of Carrying a Firearm With Unlawful Intent, Possession of a Firearm in the Commision of a Felony, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

The charges stem from an incident during a graduation ceremony on June 3, 2025 at the United Wholesale Mortgage campus in Pontiac. At approximately 6:30pm, Oakland County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene for a fight in the parking lot. Subsequent investigation and review of surveillance footage showed that defendants Hardiman and Whaley entered the venue together, and Hardiman assaulted an unidentified individual. After UWM security intervened, Hardiman, Whaley, and other individuals involved in the fight left the building, and the fight continued in the parking lot. The defendants were apparently unarmed at that time.

The surveillance video then showed defendant Hardiman being struck by a car, apparently without injury. Hardiman and Whaley then went back to their vehicle. Whaley retrieved a firearm, carrying it in his waistband, and Hardiman took possession of a distinctive backpack, which deputies later discovered contained an AR-style pistol. Eventually Hardiman and Whaley returned to their vehicle. Instead of leaving, they exited the vehicle in the UWM parking lot a short time later. They are then seen crouching behind and between vehicles in the parking lot. They are alleged to have abandoned the loaded firearms underneath parked vehicles. Sheriff's deputies retrieved the guns and found them both fully loaded with extended magazines and chambered rounds.

During their investigation, deputies were approached by an attendee who reported that she had heard from another individual who was not on the premises about a potentially threatening Snapchat message. At present, law enforcement has not verified the existence of a Snapchat message or the identity of the person who allegedly saw it. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible if this alleged threat can be verified and tied to either suspect.

"Law enforcement has not been able to verify the existence of the Snapchat. Therefore, we are moving forward with the charges presented by investigators," said Prosecutor McDonald. "This graduation event was disrupted by a fight that required a police response and, rather than walking away, it appears these defendants retrieved a gun. That's unacceptable and we will hold them accountable."

Carrying A Firearm With Unlawful Intent and Carrying a Concealed Weapon are both punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a $2500 fine. Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony is punishable by a mandatory 2 years in prison, served consecutively with any other sentence.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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CONTACT: OCPOmedia@oakgov.com