Former Student Threatening To Shoot Up Kennedy High Arrested: PD

WHEATON, MD — A former student at John F. Kennedy High School in Wheaton was arrested after police say he threatened to shoot people on campus.

Jason Salinas, 20, of Takoma Park, has been charged with making threats of mass violence, disturbing school operations, and making false statements to a state official, court records reveal.

Montgomery County police said Salinas called the school three times, threatening to shoot people on campus — twice on Feb. 13 and once on Feb. 14.

All the calls were made from the same internet phone number. According to authorities, Salinas tried to disguise his number by "spoofing" — or changing the caller ID to display a fictitious number — via phone applications and the internet.

Police later determined that Salinas was a former Kennedy High School student. They also said Salinas had a warrant for his arrest for two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of a third-degree sexual offense.

Detectives arrested Salinas in Prince George's County on Feb. 26. During a police interview, Salinas admitted to making the calls, according to authorities.

This isn't the first time that Montgomery County Public Schools has dealt with threats of violence this year. Earlier this month, police said a student made a threat on social media against Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring.

In the days after Salinas allegedly made those calls, another caller — whom authorities later identified as a Kennedy High student — reached out to the Wheaton school and falsely reported an active shooter on campus. That student was charged with making threats of mass violence, disruption of school activities, and making false statements to police, authorities said.

Police say all threats directed toward other students and the school community — even if it is a prank — will be taken serious.

"The Montgomery County Department of Police fully investigates each threat and works to identify the person or persons responsible for making the threat," police said in a statement. "If a person makes threats, regardless whether it is a prank, he/she can be criminally charged."

Police added that they will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.