Maryland High School in Lockdown After Student Shot — Here's What Police Say

Police officials confirm one 16-year-old male student sustained a gunshot wound following a Thomas S. Wootton High School shooting on Monday afternoon. The victim was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School at around 2:15 p.m. on Monday, 9 February 2026, who subsequently found the victim, a student from Gaithersburg, in a school hallway. He was then transported to hospital. According to a press release from the police, they have detained a 16-year-old Wootton student who is a suspect in the said shooting.

The school was consequently placed on lockdown as a safety measure, and students were taken to a reunification site, Robert Frost Middle School. The suspect, whose identity will not be disclosed, will be tried as an adult. The police are currently coordinating with the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office for the charges. A gun has yet to be recovered.

Unfolding of Events

The school's administrator, Tabitha Davis, said in an interview with Associated Press, 'We're just still in lockdown, the police are here, the kids are all in the classrooms.' Rockville City Police Department announced a few hours after the shooting that the suspect, who is now in custody, poses 'no further threat to public safety.'

Hours after the shooting, all roads leading to Wootton High, and the police said students were to take their regular routes on their way home. Parents were also informed of the reunification sites, and the students were released before 5:00 p.m., according to a report by Newsweek.

The report also shared that a Wootton High parent, Heather Rodriguez, had rushed to the school after she heard about the shooting, while her daughter had sent her text messages saying gunshots were heard and that the school was placed on lockdown afterwards. Her daughter also told her of the presence of the police, saying, 'Everyone's acting like we are going to die. If anything happens, I love you.'

In an interview with WUSA9, a student at Wootton High who left the school before the shooting said he was shocked while staying outside the campus, 'It seems like everyone inside is extremely scared. And shocked.'

A father of a Wootton High student who was inside one of the classrooms also told the publication that his son had sent him a text while he was at work so rushed to the high school immediately after receiving it. He said, 'I just hope that what's happening... officers just break the door and go inside. I just don't want them to stay outside. Reminds me of what happened [at Uvalde] and I don't want that to happen here. Homeschooling, I guess, is the best thing to do.'

In 2024, a former Wootton High student named Alex Ye was arrested when plans of a shooting plot were exposed to the police.

Lockdown Lifted After 2-Hour Police Search

According to sources, Montgomery County Public Schools have no metal detectors, although community resource officers are around the high schools. Thomas S. Wootton High School was searched thoroughly by SWAT and the Montgomery County Police Department, and, two hours into the deep search, the lockdown was lifted entirely.

Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive, said in a statement to WUSA9, '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.'

Elrich also highlighted that the lockdown was the 'appropriate step' in campus gunfire reports. He continued with, '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.'