Dear Parents, Students, and Staff,
I write to inform you about a serious incident that occurred today, Monday, Oct. 23 and how it was addressed. An individual reported to the administration that they believed they witnessed another student attempting to conceal a weapon in his clothing. Montgomery County Police were immediately called and responded to our school very quickly. The student was brought to the office and asked to conduct a self-search; when that request was refused, police conducted a physical search, during which a gun was found.
Police arrested the student and removed him from the building. The student will also receive discipline in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct, which is very specific for violations of a serious matter such as this. The police had no information concerning a direct threat to the campus or any individual and there is no information that the student intended any harm to anyone in the building today.
What occurred today is an extremely serious matter and I am requesting that you take a moment with your child to reinforce the seriousness of bringing anything to school that could be considered a weapon. Weapons of any kind may not be brought to school, and students are subjected to serious disciplinary actions in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct and potentially in violation of the law as is the case today for this incident.
Together, we can work for safety in our community and school; in this case, an individual shared important information that allowed us to act promptly. This is “See something, Say something,” and I am very glad this person took the initiative to report what was seen to the administration.
I want to thank our school staff for their commitment to our established safety procedures and for working swiftly and efficiently to ensure this matter was handled professionally. I also appreciate your cooperation and discussing this issue with your child to work together to maintain a safe and nurturing learning environment at Walter Johnson High School.
Additionally, after dismissal, we evacuated the building briefly to investigate an odor. The fire department came and gave us the all-clear to reenter the building. The two incidents were unrelated. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 240-740-6900. Sincerely, Jennifer Baker Principal Walter Johnson High School
