*This story was originally published on 12/4, and has since been updated

The Springbrook high school administration  received a report at approximately 10:30 AM today regarding a student possibly carrying a weapon on campus, according to a letter addressed to parents from Dr. Williams.

Working with the School Resource Officer (SRO), staff promptly located the student in question and conducted a search of his belongings, discovering that the student was “in possession of an unloaded handgun and an empty magazine”. The weapon was confiscated and the student was brought into custody by the SRO.

According to Montgomery County police, the 17-year-old student was charged as an adult with possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm by a person under 21, and possession of a firearm on school property. Investigators say that the weapon in question was a legally purchased .40 caliber handgun. The weapon was registered to the student’s father.

“Ensuring the safety of every student at Springbrook is a top priority and a responsibility that I take very seriously. I appreciate your support as we work to maintain a safe and secure environment for our school community,” Dr. Williams said in the letter. 

Despite the fact that the student was a minor, local media outlets including FOX 5 DC, CBS Baltimore, and WJLA, have decided to publish the student’s name. The Blueprint editorial team has decided not to do so.

Montgomery County police are currently investigating the incident. Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the Firearms Investigations Unit at 240-773-6400.

The full message from Dr. Williams is available below:

December 4, 2018

Dear Parents/Guardians:

I am writing to inform you about a serious incident that occurred today, and to share information on how it was handled by our staff and our partners in the Montgomery County Police Department.

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., we received a report that a Springbrook student might be in possession of a weapon at the school. Working with our School Resource Officer (SRO) we quickly located the student in question and conducted a search. While searching the student and their belongings, it was discovered that the student was in possession of an unloaded handgun and an empty magazine. The weapon was immediately confiscated and the student was taken into custody by the SRO.

This illegal and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated in our school community. Weapons of any type are not permitted on or near school property. Any student caught with a weapon will be referred to law enforcement and punished accordingly.

I want to commend our staff, students, SRO and the security team for their vigilance, quick response and efforts to ensure that our school remains a safe place for our students to learn.

Montgomery County police are investigating this incident and we will provide additional details when they become available.

Ensuring the safety of every student at Springbrook is a top priority and a responsibility that I take very seriously. I appreciate your support as we work to maintain a safe and secure environment for our school community. If you have any questions, please contact me at 240-740-3800.

Sincerely,

Arthur Williams, Ed. D.

Principal