Bond raised to $25k for Topsail High teen arrested during lockdown

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — One of the Topsail High School students arrested after a threat forced a lockdown at several schools appeared in court Wednesday morning.

Bryce Sheehan, 18, is charged with having a weapon on school property. During court, the judge raised Sheehan’s bond from $8,000 to $25,000. If he posts bond, Sheehan will remain under house arrest and electronic monitoring.

On Tuesday, a parent called the Pender County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line to report a student may be heading to the school with a firearm.

Deputies on the campus spotted Sheehan sitting in his vehicle in front of the school.

Investigators say Sheehan had a large knife strapped to his leg, as well as three other knives on him.

Topsail High School, Topsail Middle, and Topsail Elementary initiated a code red lockdown.

During the investigation on campus, a driver alerted deputies of another vehicle that had been driving erratically while approaching the school. At one point, the vehicle had pulled over and the driver placed something into the back seat.

That driver, Alan Edwardo, Jr., 16, was found with a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle in his vehicle.

Investigators say Edwardo told them he had heard about the lockdown at the school and was responding to stop the shooter.

Edwardo was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on education property.  He posted bond and is out of jail. He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Both Edwardo and Sheehan are scheduled to be back in court on August 1.