Preliminary Exam date set for St. Clair Shores man charged with Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against a School

Mount Clemens, MI – Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced that a date has been set for the Preliminary Exam of 20-year-old Joel Edwards of St. Clair Shores, MI, who is facing charges related to an alleged plan to attack a school. 

A Probable Cause Hearing was held on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, before Judge Joseph Craigen Oster in the 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores, MI. After the hearing, Judge Oster set Edwards’ Preliminary Exam date for Friday, February 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, St. Clair Shores Police conducted a cyberthreat investigation and welfare check involving Edwards after Michigan State Police, at the request of the FBI, reported TikTok videos allegedly associated with Edwards expressed a desire to carry out a mass shooting. During the welfare check, Edwards was found to be in possession of weapons and was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation. Edwards has remained continuously in custody since that time. He was held at a mental health facility until Sept. 25, 2025, when he was sentenced for violating a term of his probation, and was then transferred to the Macomb County Jail, where he remains held on a $5 million bond.

Edwards is charged with the following offenses:

• Schools – Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against School, School Employees or Students with Specific Intent to Carry Out or Overt Act Toward, a 10-year felony,
• Computers – Using to Commit A Crime, a 10-year felony,
• Weapons Felony Firearm, a 2-year felony consecutive to main charge.

“I recognize the serious concern these allegations have caused among the residents of Macomb County. My office is actively and thoroughly pursuing this matter, and we will ensure it is handled with the full measure of diligence and accountability it demands. Protecting the safety of the people of this county remains my foremost priority,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido stated.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office represents the People. We are committed to achieving justice and following the laws of the State of Michigan. All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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