N.C. man allegedly shot park ranger, threw rock into day care that said 'kids will be killed'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TCD) -- A 36-year-old man was taken into custody on multiple charges after he allegedly shot a park ranger and threw a rock into a day care with a threatening message written on it.

The search for Tyson Lee Corpening began Monday, Nov. 27. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers went to the Friendship Sportsplex on the 2300 block of Cindy Lane after receiving a call that a Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation employee had been shot. Officers rendered aid to the ranger, and he was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On Monday, Dec. 5, at 8:40 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police were called to a day care on the 3300 block of Beatties Ford Road because a rock was thrown through the window "with a note containing hate speech and various threats toward children."

Police said no one was injured.

In a press briefing Dec. 5, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Maj. Melanie Peacock said there was a "clear connection" between the shooting and the day care incident. The two locations are reportedly very close to each other and "within walking distance."

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg SWAT Team and FBI located Corpening and arrested him on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, two counts of ethnic intimidation, damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and threat of mass violence on educational property.

According to the search warrant cited by WJZY-TV, on the day of the shooting, a man allegedly jumped out from behind the bushes and fired his gun at the parks and recreation employee, hitting him in the leg. The suspect reportedly left a note and fled.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed the rock being hurled through the window on Saturday, Dec. 3, at around 11 p.m. The suspect allegedly wrapped a rock in plastic and threw it through the door of the day care center. Inside the plastic, a note in similar handwriting reportedly said, "Kids will be killed within the next 24 hours."

WJZY reports there were also threats against minorities.

The FBI in Charlotte reportedly learned a similar note had been previously written in Florida.

Mecklenburg County Jail records show Corpening is being held on $10 million bond.

MORE:

• Case Update: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation in the Metro Division - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
• CMPD Press Briefing - December 5, 2022 - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
• 'Kids will be killed' written on rock thrown into Charlotte daycare by suspect accused of shooting, injuring park ranger: Warrant - WJZY