Student found with a pellet gun at Clarksburg middle school

No students were harmed, staff ‘intervened quickly,’ principal says

May 9, 2024 9:06 p.m.

A student at Forest Oak Middle School in Clarksburg was discovered Monday with a pellet gun at school, Principal Dacia Sewell wrote in a community letter sent to families.

“During a lunch transition, students reported another student had an item that appeared to be a firearm,” Sewell wrote Monday. “Staff intervened quickly and discovered a pellet gun.”

According to the letter, no students were harmed. In addition, Montgomery County police were notified and the school contacted the department’s community engagement officer (CEO) assigned to the school. The letter stated the CEO was dispatched to provide support. CEOs are county police officers who patrol schools within a cluster but do not remain inside school buildings.

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Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson Chris Cram wrote in an email to MoCo360 Thursday afternoon that police responded to the incident, but he could not confirm whether officers confiscated the pellet gun. However, he said confiscation is the usual practice.

County police did not immediately respond Thursday afternoon to MoCo360’s request for comment about the incident.

According to the principal’s letter, the student faces discipline in accordance with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct states that “possessing, using and/or threatening to use a non-firearm gun (such as a BB, pellet, cap or airsoft gun), or a gun-like toy modified to resemble a firearm” can result in various levels of intervention, from community service, peer mediation or in-school suspension to short- and long-term suspension or expulsion.

Cram said he could not comment on whether the student is currently attending school due to student privacy rules.

“Throughout this incident, our staff remained vigilant and dedicated to ensuring the safety of all students. I commend them for their professionalism and commitment to handling this difficult situation,” Sewell wrote.

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She also said families with questions or concerns can reach out to the school.

In addition, community members can anonymously report concerns about school and student safety and mental health issues through the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Safe Schools Tipline at 1-833-632-7233, the letter said.

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