Montgomery County Police believe a 12-year-old is responsible for four bomb threats that targeted Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and Oak View Elementary School in Silver Spring.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) received email threats on Oct. 13, 16 and 23 targeting Montgomery Blair High. They also received one on Oct. 15 that targeted Oak View Elementary School.
The student, who was not identified, admitted responsibility and told police that they were aware that they couldn’t be charged under state law, according to police.
In Maryland, children younger than thirteen can only be charged with offenses that constitute a “crime of violence.”
“It is disheartening to accept that the individual responsible for disrupting the educational process and instilling fear in our community was well aware of the legal limitations surrounding their age. They understood that they could not be charged under current Maryland statutes,” said Police Chief Marcus Jones.
“In addition to the fear and chaos these threats caused, it is important to acknowledge the significant financial and operational burden each incident placed on our department. Dispatching officers and K-9 units to investigate these threats, especially when our resources are already stretched thin, diverted our personnel away from other pressing calls for service. This diversion of resources is unacceptable, and it jeopardizes the safety of our community,” he wrote in a statement.
Statement From Chief Marcus Jones Regarding Person Identified in School Bomb Threatshttps://t.co/wbMmcc5163#mcpd #mcpnews pic.twitter.com/ddhBCPNaPy
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) October 25, 2023
Thank You Community Partners! @mcpnews 💯 https://t.co/lY5pye3Oiu pic.twitter.com/3sHqd3q9A2
— Renay Johnson (@blairprincipal) October 25, 2023
