Monroe Police Department detectives successfully identified the suspects responsible for calling in a bomb threat to officials at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport on May 24, 2023.

Officers identified two juvenile subjects located in Harnett County, North Carolina with assistance from other local agencies. Due to the age of the offenders and their juvenile classification their names will not be released. Officers are seeking charges through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

This investigation began Wednesday afternoon after Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport officials received a phone call stating that there were explosives located at the airport. Law enforcement immediately responded and evacuated the airport. Officers and assisting agencies conducted a sweep of the airport property, and began working to determine the validity of the threats and to identify the origin of the threatening phone call.

Airport officials, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, paused all air traffic. Local officials restricted all foot and vehicle traffic in and out of the airport.

We would like to thank the Monroe Fire Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union EMS, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, Erwin Police Department, US Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration for their cooperation and assistance. 

“We cannot overstate the importance of cooperation among all law enforcement agencies to investigate serious incidents like this one. We were able to swiftly and seamlessly bring this situation to a safe and peaceful conclusion thanks to the efforts of our officers and the assistance of these cooperating agencies,” said City of Monroe Police Chief J. Bryan Gilliard.

This investigation is ongoing.