CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Spates loves any kind of art. Inspiring work that helps Spates through his own life’s challenges.

Spates was born with cerebral palsy. So little things in life, even walking, don’t always come easy for him.

But the bullying in school was even worse. Spates says taunting started in elementary school. By the time he reached high school, Spates says he was both physically and verbally bullied.

Michael Spates was born with cerebral palsy and bullied throughout his school years

Spates says he brought a gun to school in 2018 to defend himself

Spates was arrested and charged with bringing the gun to school

Now Spates mentors other teens going through similar issues to encourage them that help is out there

“It was really bad in high school to the point where you felt like you couldn’t take it,” Spates said.“It was really bad in high school to the point where you felt like you couldn’t take it,” Spates said.

His mother, Chanda Spates, says she reported the bullying to school administrators and counselors at the time, but Spates claims nothing was done. 

“He had been attacked at one time by nine kids at one time,” she said. “He has been rushed from school to the hospital in an ambulance and had two concussions. So this it wasn't just, 'hey, I don't like you. We don't like how you walk, and we're bullying.' This was extreme bullying." 

Spates says he felt like he was out of options, so he says he brought a gun to school just in case he needed to defend himself.

“I knew I was going to get in trouble,” Spates said. “But at the same time nobody was helping me. So I felt protected. At the same time. So I wasn’t really too worried because I’m protected. If anything happens I’m going to be OK.”

The gun was found when Spates was in second period. He was charged with bringing the gun to school and kicked out.

Spates' decision changed his life forever, spending time in juvenile detention, and in the end leading him to drop out of high school.

But with the help of art and mentorship, Spates has slowly been able to move forward. He’s even helped his mom develop an app, DDAAT App, for students who are being bullied or dealing with a mental health crisis.

“In school it was already on our phones 24/7. So this being able to just click on the app to ask for help and find an answer, I feel like it will help,” Spates said.

Now he’s mentoring other students going through similar struggles and sharing his own story through music.

“I'm in my comfort zone,” Spates said. “Like I can say what I want. I can fit out, and I can do it or and it's like once I give on the mic is like, I'm talking to someone, even though someone is not in front of me.”

A message he believes is now more important than ever.

We contacted Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools about the family’s initial reports of bullying, but in its response, it didn’t address those claims.

Since 2018 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has done a number of things to address bullying and gun violence.

One move the district made was introducing the Say Something app last school year. The app is part of the Sandy Hook Promise and allows students to anonymously report bullying or threats to school administration.

The district has also started social emotional learning lessons throughout the school year.