1 student shot inside Wootton High School in Montgomery County; another student in custody

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A person was shot inside Thomas S. Wootton High School in Montgomery County, Maryland, according to police.

The victim is a student who was shot in the stomach, law enforcement sources told 7News’ Brad Bell. Police said the victim was rushed to the hospital. They did not provide a condition but said they are stable. Investigators have not released any information on the victim’s identity.

A suspect, also a student, was quickly identified and arrested a short time later near the school, according to investigators. No name or age has been given.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has placed the campus on lockdown.

Police officers were dispatched at 2:15 p.m. and are on the scene to investigate.

Rockville police said there is no further threat to the public.

Police said parents will be able to pick up their children at Robert Frost Middle School.

A new briefing is set for 6 p.m. 7News will stream the event when it happens.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich released a statement about the shooting.

“I am aware of the shooting that occurred this afternoon at Thomas S. Wootton High School and that a person is in custody. I am in direct communication with Montgomery County Police, the City of Rockville, and Montgomery County Public Schools leadership as they assess the situation and ensure the safety of students, staff, and the surrounding community.

At this time, officers are on scene and investigating. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, which is the appropriate step whenever there is a report of gunfire on a campus.

Our thoughts are with the Wootton students, faculty, and their families during this distressing time. Incidents like this are frightening for all involved. Student safety is our highest priority. We will continue to coordinate closely with law enforcement and school officials and will share confirmed information as it becomes available.

There will be a lot of news, information, and potential misinformation about this breaking and ongoing situation. I ask residents to rely on official updates from Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Public Schools while the investigation continues.”

7News recently asked MCPS about security at schools in the district. Below are the questions asked and how the district responded.

Q: Does your school district use physical security screening devices, such as metal detectors or security-camera-based AI weapons detection?

No

Q: What other physical security measures do you employ in the school environment?

MCPS has ACS (access control system) installed at our entrances to ensure that visitors check-in properly and only MCPS badge holders can enter the building without being buzzed in. We also have a visitor management system (VMS) that requires visitors to scan in their state IDs to visit anyone the building, as well as closed circuit camera systems in all of our interior and exterior school structures. MCPS also uses vape sensors, equipped with aggression detection, in all high school bathrooms.

Q: What internal systems do you have in place to identify students in distress, to monitor threat assessments and to provide mental health resources to students?

MCPS has a comprehensive strategy for providing mental health resources to all students. Every school is staffed with professional school counselors. Schools also have active Student Well-being Teams (school-based teams that connect students and families with resources to address social-emotional and mental health needs). MCPS employs 80 licensed social workers who work to help students achieve academic and personal success by addressing social, emotional, behavioral, and familial challenges that interfere with learning. MCPS also partners with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and multiple mental health agencies in the community to provide mental health services in schools for students who have received permission for intensive mental health therapeutic support. These services are provided in the majority MCPS elementary schools and all middle and high schools.

This is a developing story.