MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County Police are investigating after a pair of bomb threats at Maryland high schools Tuesday morning. Police said on social media that Albert Einstein High School was evacuated and Wootton High School was under shelter-in-place status around 10:30 a.m.
By 11 a.m., a spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools said Wootton High School had been searched with K9s and there was no threat found. The shelter-in-place order was lifted. The spokesperson said Albert Einstein's principal decided to evacuate the school out of an abundance of caution. By 11:15 a.m., police said that threat, too, was unfounded and students were allowed back in class.
A day later, police reported the phone number the threat came from is associated with a psychiatric hospital in the Washington, DC area. Investigators say they identified the patient who placed the call and they are cooperating with detectives.
No charges have been filed.
This comes after Montgomery County Police arrested an 18-year-old Wootton High School student for threats to commit mass violence after detectives discovered a 129-page manifesto detailing and strategizing about carrying out a school shooting.
Alex Ye was arrested last week following a joint investigation by the Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI.
Charging documents indicate the manifesto was a book that was shared with someone Ye had befriended while receiving treatment for homicidal and suicidal thoughts last year. Ye had previously threatened to "shoot up a school" in 2022, as well, according to the documents.
According to the documents, the person who received the book noted that the main character was Asian and transgender, who had previously been hospitalized for psychiatric care. All of these things mirrored Ye's real life. The person ended up calling police and said they were worried that a school shooting was imminent.
Montgomery County Public Schools said Ye was enrolled at Wootton High School, but has not attended campus since the fall of 2022.
RELATED: Rockville student arrested for threatening to shoot up elementary school in 129-page manifesto
As a result of the investigation, Montgomery County Public Schools increased security at Wootton and other schools around the county.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.