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17 year old attacked student with knife, threatened parent outside Montgomery County high school

No major injuries were reported from the incident, and the suspect was taken into police custody.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Students at Winston Churchill High School were asked to shelter in place Wednesday after a teen girl was attacked by a student from another school, according to Montgomery County Police.

Around 11:35 a.m. police said a 17-year-old student from Walt Whitman High School came to Winston Churchill High School and attacked a female Churchill student with a knife in the Montgomery County school’s parking lot. 

A parent stepped in to separate the two, at which point the assailant threatened the parent and another student before leaving the property. The Montgomery County Police Department was then called and arrived on the scene.

While Montgomery County Police said the girl sustained minor injuries, a letter from WCHS Principal John Taylor sent home to families said all WCHS students were home safe with their families. 

"We will be implementing enhanced monitoring throughout the evening during activities and during dismissal, but all activities will continue as planned," Taylor stated in an email to the school community.

See the full letter from Taylor below: 

Winston Churchill High School Families and Community:

I am writing to let you know about a serious incident that occurred on Winston Churchill High School property today, Oct. 13. At approximately 11:35 while students were at lunch and returning after testing, an unknown assailant came onto the school property at the bus loop. This individual assaulted one of our Churchill students. When a parent intervened, the assailant threatened the parent and another Churchill student and then fled the property. 911 was called and members of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) arrived to help us secure the area and investigate the incident.

Members of the administrative team, school staff and Security worked with MCPD to secure the building and assist with the safe arrival of our students from lunch. Thankfully, all of the Winston Churchill students involved are okay, and now home safe with their families. We entered into a Shelter-in-Place for the afternoon in order to notify staff and implement our emergency protocols to help secure the building. MCPD is conducting a full investigation and are confident they will apprehend the suspect, who they do NOT believe is a current or former Churchill student.

We will be implementing enhanced monitoring throughout the evening during activities and during dismissal, but all activities will continue as planned.

This is an unfortunate incident and we will work to implement safety protocols in conjunction with Montgomery County Public Schools Office of Safety and Security in order to ensure the ongoing safety of our students and staff. If you or your student has any information about this incident, please have them come to the main office and share with administration and security in order to support the investigation.

Sincerely,

Mr. John Taylor

Principal

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