This story, originally published at 1:06 p.m. on March 1 was updated at 2:14 p.m. to include MCPS spokesperson Chris Cram’s comments about the case and to correct the statement that he had declined to comment.
A juvenile male is facing charges for allegedly calling Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville and making bomb threats on Nov. 27, Montgomery County police said in a release Friday.
The juvenile male has been charged with multiple offenses, including threat of mass violence and telephone misuse, and his case has been referred to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Service, according to the release. Police did not release his age or say where he lives.
Police determined that around 8 a.m. on Nov. 27, the suspect allegedly called the high school at 2100 Wootton Parkway, saying that bombs had been placed inside “specific areas” of the building.
Officers along with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to the location after school staff called 911, police said. With the help of officers, students and staff were evacuated. A search of the building, including K-9 units, did not find any bombs, according to police.
During an investigation, officers spoke with witnesses and conducted search warrants that allowed them to gather enough evidence to identify the suspect, police said.
Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson Chris Cram said that he “was not aware of this but as it is a criminal matter all comments would need to come from the police.”
Wootton High School also faced a report of a bomb threat on Jan. 12. Police did not say whether this incident was connected to the Nov. 27 bomb threat.
The suspect also allegedly made bomb threats against schools in Howard County, as well as other states including New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Missouri, the release said, and he is facing charges in other states.
In October, a 15-year-old was charged with making a bomb threat against Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, and a 12-year-old was found responsible for several bomb threats at Silver Spring schools including Montgomery Blair High School, Oak View Elementary School and Silver Spring International School, according to police.
However, the 12-year-old was not charged with a crime. In Maryland, children younger than 13 can only be charged with offenses that are considered crimes of violence, which include murder, rape, first-degree assault, carjacking and abduction.