Crime & Safety
1 Person Detained After Gun Found At Blake HS: Police
A person was arrested Wednesday at James Hubert Blake High School after police were alerted to a gun on campus, authorities said.
Updated at 12:32 p.m.
MONTGOMERY CO., MD โ A person was detained Wednesday after police were called to James Hubert Blake High School for reports of a gun on campus.
The Montgomery County Police Department said officers were dispatched to the Colesville school just before 11:30 a.m.
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Initial reports by police indicated the person in custody was a student. However, officials later stated that "preliminary information is that the person is not a MCPS student."
No further details on the individual were provided. The person remains in police custody.
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Police said the firearm was located at the school.
Officials have not specified how school officials became aware of the firearm or if any injuries were linked to the incident. It's also unknown whether the firearm was registered.
The high school was placed on a temporary hold status.
The latest comes as Montgomery County Public Schools has dealt with several instances of firearms being brought onto school grounds, with residents questioning safety standards implemented by the agency.
A central issue has been the matter of putting more police officers at schools across the district. A survey previously determined that one-third of families, staff and administrators want a stronger police presence in their schools.
Related:
- Teen Charged As Adult After Loaded Gun Found On Campus
- Student Arrested After Bringing Gun, Knife To Campus
- Walt Whitman HS Teen Arrested In Arson, Vandalism Cases
- High School Student Detained After Gun Found On Campus
However, a key setback is staffing shortages within the police force. David McBain, who serves as the assistant chief for the Montgomery County Police Department, told school officials at a recent meeting that the agency does not have sufficient staffing numbers to have a footing at every campus.
"When you look at our staffing situation, we can't cover all the schools," he said. "We just can't."
On Friday, police responded to a similar case at Watkins Mill High School.
This is a developing story. Stay with Patch for the latest.
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