Editor’s note: This story, originally published at 5:50 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2025, was updated at 5:32 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2025, to correct the spelling of Nicolas Blanco’s name and his age. A Thursday press release from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police had the incorrect date of birth for Blanco. According to digital court records, he is 18.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred Wednesday morning during a fight involving Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students in a downtown Bethesda park, according to Maryland-National Capital Park Police.
The shooting caused Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and a nearby private school to go into lockdown that morning. No one was injured during the incident.
Nicolas Blanco, 18, of Bethesda, was in custody as of 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a park police statement. He faces charges of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and firearm-related offenses for the non-contact shooting during the fight at Chase Avenue Urban Park at 4701 Chase Avenue. Online court records for Blanco were not available Thursday evening.
Another suspect, a juvenile whose name has not been released, was arrested for firearm-related charges Thursday, park police said. No further details were provided.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Chris Cram said Thursday he could not confirm whether the suspects were MCPS students.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Principal Shelton Mooney said in a letter to the school community Wednesday that school officials had determined that individuals seen in a video of a fight at the park were students from the school. The high school at 4301 East West Highway is less than 1 mile away from the park.
According to Montgomery County police radio transmissions, a caller reported around 10 a.m. on Wednesday that a group of roughly 20 “kids” were fighting on the street in front of Chase Avenue Urban Park before the group scattered after hearing a gunshot.
County police and the Maryland-National Capital Park Police said in social media posts Wednesday that officers from both organizations responded to the park at 4701 Chase Avenue, about a block from Wisconsin Avenue. No injuries were reported and no one was in custody after the incident, police said.
According to Mooney’s community message, a community member informed the school’s main office at around 10:10 a.m. Wednesday that they had witnessed a fight and heard gunfire at the Bethesda park after which the individuals involved in the fight dispersed. Mooney said B-CC administrators contacted the school’s Community Engagement Officer, a county police officer assigned to the high school cluster. MCPS’ Office of School Support and Department of School Safety and Emergency Management were also contacted.
According to radio transmissions, at about 10:20 a.m., an officer reported school administrators were reviewing footage of the incident to see if any B-CC students were involved. Mooney said in the community letter the school determined B-CC students were involved by reviewing the video.
A video shared with Bethesda Today that purportedly shows the incident and seems to match the radio transmission description shows two male teenagers fighting one another while other male teenagers watch. Other members of the group join the fight and begin yelling and hitting one another. As the group continues to fight, the teens move into the street. At one point during the fight, one person can be heard yelling to others to back up and another can be heard saying “it’s loaded.” A gunshot is heard, but a gun isn’t seen on the video, and the group scatters.
Two shell casings were found at the scene, according to radio transmissions.
According to Mooney’s letter, the school entered lockdown at 10:57 a.m., during which MCPS staff and police identified students who were involved, reviewed security footage and gathered “additional information.”
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High community members were informed of the lockdown around 11 a.m., according to text messages shared with Bethesda Today. At around 1:20 p.m., the school was transitioned to a shelter-in-place after the school determined that students in the building were safe, according to the community letter. School was dismissed at its regular time, according to text messages shared with Bethesda Today, but all after-school activities were canceled.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, a private school for kindergarteners through eighth graders at 7500 Pearl Street in Bethesda, also went into lockdown, according to Principal David Long. He said anytime Bethesda-Chevy Chase High enters a lockdown, the private school follows suit out of an abundance of caution.
Police encourage anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Maryland-National Capital Park Police Criminal Investigations Unit’s Tip Line at 301-929-2748 or CrimeTips@mncparkpolice.org.
