Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School returned to normal operations late Tuesday morning following a lockdown for the report of a weapon on campus, according to police radio transmissions.
At roughly 10:30 a.m., Montgomery County police posted on social media the Bethesda high school was on lockdown for the report of a weapon at the school.
According to a message from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Assistant Principal Leanna Blandford to the high school community, the school went into lockdown after a “credible report” from a student that another student had a gun in their backpack and was showing it in the school bathroom. The school initiated lockdown procedures, according to Blandford’s message, and alerted Montgomery County police.
At 10:57 a.m., police said on social media that no weapon had been found, but officers were actively investigating the report. The school remained on lockdown as a precaution, according to the post.
After a “thorough search of the building” and review of security footage, it was determined that the student believed to have a gun left the building before the lockdown procedures were put in place, Blandford’s message said. The school then moved to a shelter-in-place while police continued to search for the student in the community at roughly 11:11 a.m., according to a social media post from police.
At roughly 11 a.m., officers reported on radio transmissions that the student left the school before the lockdown. Officers searched the student’s home, according to transmissions, but said his mother told them he wasn’t home and was supposed to be at school.
Officers searched for the student believed to have a weapon and ultimately took him into custody at the intersection of Maple Ave and Leland Street at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to transmissions, after the student walked to the intersection to meet police. Police called for firearms investigators after taking the student into custody.
With the help of the student’s parent, he was located and apprehended by police, according to Blandford’s message, allowing the school to exit the shelter-in-place around 11:40 a.m.
“We understand that incidents like this do create high levels of concern and anxiety, particularly in light of the recent incident involving a student fight off campus that had gun involvement last Wednesday,” Blandford said in her message. “Such incidents are absolutely unacceptable, and we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our students and staff.”
Blandford said the school was compiling “comprehensive answers” to a series of questions the school’s Parent Teacher Association sent regarding ongoing safety measures.
This is the second lockdown for the school within six days. On Wednesday, a fight that involved shots fired off-campus at Chase Avenue Urban Park at 4701 Chase Avenue in Bethesda caused the high school and a nearby private school to go into a lockdown. No one was injured in the incident. The high school at 4301 East West Highway is less than 1 mile away from the park.
That incident involved Bethesda-Chevy Chase High students, according to a Wednesday letter from the principal.
Two suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting: Nicolas Blanco, 18, of Bethesda, and an unnamed juvenile. Charging documents state Blanco and the juvenile suspect were identified as B-CC High students after school officials reviewed video footage that was taken of the incident.
On Friday, a Montgomery County District Court judge ordered Blanco to be held without bond. Blanco is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds while he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 21, according to digital court records. An attorney for Blanco, Eric Bacaj, did not immediately respond to Bethesda Today’s request for comment Friday afternoon.
This story is developing and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
