Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools fired a teaching assistant after police charged her with threatening to shoot employees at Metro School, a district campus that serves students with cognitive disabilities.

Ashley Monique Armstrong, 38, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 8, on a charge of communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, a felony under North Carolina law. The arrest was first reported by WCNC. Armstrong is being held without bond in Mecklenburg County jail.

An arrest warrant states the alleged threat was made Sept. 21, more than two weeks before the Oct. 8 arrest, WBTV reported. No explanation for the gap between the alleged threat and the arrest has been reported. No motive has been made public.

CMS confirmed Armstrong's firing in a statement Friday, Oct. 9, and sent a letter to Metro School families that evening. The district said Armstrong is no longer employed by CMS and that it could not share additional details, citing board policy and state law.

No response from Armstrong or an attorney on her behalf has been reported.

Metro School sits in Uptown Charlotte at 405 S. Davidson St. It serves approximately 250 students with cognitive disabilities ranging in age from 3 to 22, according to the school's website.

Many students have severe medical and physical needs. Some also have visual impairments, hearing impairments and autism. Students are placed at Metro School through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team process, drawing families from across the CMS district, including Ballantyne.

No next court date for Armstrong has been reported. The case remains pending in Mecklenburg County.