Police determine threats to two MCPS schools to be ‘unfounded’

Incidents come one day after lockdown at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High

May 17, 2024 5:56 p.m.

The “reported threat” to Bethesda Elementary School on Friday afternoon was determined to be “unfounded” according to county police on X.

Police posted on X at 1:46 p.m. that officers are “confirming the validity” of the report and will release more information as it becomes available. At 2:01 p.m. they announced that the threat was “determined to be unfounded.” The school is located at 7600 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda.

The lockdown follows an earlier incident Friday at Walt Whitman High School, also in Bethesda, after a threat was reported. Officers have determined that the threat sent to the high school was unfounded, according to Montgomery County police.

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At around 12:21 p.m., county police posted on X that Walt Whitman was evacuating students and the police were working to confirm the validity of the report. Police did not specify the kind of threat, but according to social media posts, officers were on the scene and had secured the area by 12:44 p.m.

Police cleared the school around 1:07 p.m. and said Montgomery County Public Schools would be releasing information for parents to pick up their students.

The lockdown comes a day after Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School was placed on lockdown Thursday due to what police called a “swatting” call.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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