Teen In Custody After Blake HS Shooting Leaves 1 Person Injured: Police

Updated at 2:10 p.m.

MONTGOMERY CO., MD — A 19-year-old was detained Wednesday after a shooting took place at James Hubert Blake High School, police said.

The Montgomery County Police Department said officers were initially dispatched to the Colesville school just before 11:30 a.m. for reports of a gun on campus.

The latest update issued by police notes the shooting was traced to a fight that took place in the school parking lot. At the scene, police said they recovered a handgun "after it reportedly fell to the ground."

Both a school security officer and a designated community engagement officer, who was already on campus, responded to the scene where the 19-year-old was arrested.

A "juvenile male" who was involved in the fight suffered a gunshot wound. The individual, police said, "arrived at an area hospital."

Authorities did not specify if the boy had self-reported to the hospital or if he had been dropped off through other means.

Initial reports by police indicated the person in custody was a student. However, officials later revised, saying, "the person is not a MCPS student."

No further details on the individual were provided. The person remains in police custody.

It's unclear what prompted the fight, if charges are pending or if 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:

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• 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.