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Teen accused of killing classmate inside Butler HS bonds out of jail

By Mark Barber and Glenn Counts, wsoctv.com
By Mark Barber and Glenn Counts, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 has learned that a teenager accused in a deadly shooting at Butler High School last fallhas bonded out of jail.

According to the Mecklenburg County Jail's website, Jatwan Cuffie bonded out just after 9 p.m. Thursday, hours after a judge set his bond at $100,000.

Jatwan Cuffie

(Cuffie)

Jatwan Cuffie is accused of shooting and killing Bobby McKeithen inside the Matthews school last October.

Cuffie's attorneys had hoped for a $50,000 bond, while the prosecution had asked for a $500,000 bond. Cuffie has been in jail for 87 days under no bond.

His attorneys argued Thursday that he does not pose a risk to the community.

"The defendant’s actions were intentional and reckless,” prosecutor Desmond McCallum said.

Cuffie is accused of shooting McKeithen, a 16-year-old classmate, in the main hallway of Butler High School. Investigators said the shooting stemmed from an off-campus fight.

"This wasn't somebody who came in with the intention of causing harm to anybody,” defense attorney Michael Greene said.

Greene said the shooting would not have happened if Cuffie hadn’t been bullied and he was expecting another attack when he opened fire.

"He was also told this was going to happen again, and again, they say there is no bullying, we say check the video,” Greene said.

While out on bond, Cuffie will be under 24-hour house arrest and will have to wear an electronic ankle monitor.

Butler High School shooting coverage: 

Cuffie was initially charged with first-degree murder, but those charges have since been reduced to second-degree murder.

(McKeithen)

The school shooting sent shock waves through the county. Channel 9 was in the crowd of worried parents the day of the shooting, when they ignored police orders and surged past officers to get into the school to make sure their children were safe.

The shooting led CMS Superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox to announce new safety changes, like random backpack checks and security wandings.

['It's a huge challenge': CMS announces new safety and security measures]

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said there would be a team effort among administrators, CMS police and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Channel 9 questioned police chief Kerr Putney on where they stand.

"Their rollout is their rollout. I've taken a back seat because I'm trying to let the superintendent and the cop for CMS do their job, and they have been,” Putney said. “I'm happy to say, I think the schools are safer because of the work."

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