MCPS: Blake High shooting highlights need for security improvements
April 29 altercation began in parking lot after verbal exchange, report found
By
Ashlyn CampbellMay 22, 2026 7:23 p.m.
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A Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) after-action report released Thursday detailing the response to the April 29 shooting in a parking lot at James Hubert Blake High School recommends the district evaluate whether additional security measures are needed in outdoor areas of the Silver Spring school.
The report also noted the district needs to reinforce expectations for earlier activation of response protocols and to develop “clearer procedures for security staff on weapon recovery, scene stabilization, suspect containment, and coordination with responding law enforcement.”
The report details the incident involving the shooting of one student that occurred the morning of April 29 at the school at 300 Norwood Road. The student suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Montgomery County police. The after-action report comes after two people were charged in connection with the shooting, a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old.
The report was included as an information item on the agenda for Thursday’s school board meeting, but the board did not discuss the report.
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The report said a review of security camera footage found that two students, identified as students A and B, were in the parking lot when a Kia sedan entered. The two students went to the car as other students, identified as students C, D, E and F, walked into the parking lot and passed them.
Students C and D came up to students A and B near the Kia, where they began talking to each other. The physical altercation began after student C hit a water bottle out of student A’s hand and student A threw a punch at student C. Students B, D and E joined the altercation. Student F attempted to stop the fight and separate participants, the report said.
A firearm was discharged during the fight at around 11:27 a.m., according to the report.
In a video sent to Bethesda Today of the incident, a group of people appear to be fighting in the school parking lot. As those involved, including at least one MCPS security guard, break up the fight, it appears that a weapon was on the ground nearby.
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One person appears to pick up the weapon before they are pushed against a car by another individual. The MCPS security guard then picked the weapon up from the ground.
In another video provided to Bethesda Today, which does not show the entire incident, there is a brief glimpse of the altercation in the parking lot and then a gunshot can be heard.
At roughly 11:28 a.m., the school’s security team leader and an assistant arrived at the scene, according to the report. At that point, the driver of the Kia picked up the gun but then put it down on the ground after being confronted by one of the security staff.
The security team leader secured the gun, the report said, while the assistant detained the car’s driver.
According to the report, the high school cluster’s community engagement officer (CEO) then arrived “on scene” at roughly 11:28 p.m. MCPS spokesperson Liliana Lopez said in a Friday email that the CEO was in the main office of the building before arriving to the parking lot where the incident happened.
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According to the report, students A and B ran off school grounds following the incident, with student A pacing “near the grassy area by the bus entrance before leaving the grounds.” Student B also left school grounds.
Following the shooting, the school was informed that someone entered a local hospital with a gunshot wound, the report said. At 12:07 p.m., it was confirmed to Principal Ahmed Adelekan that the individual was a Blake High student and at 1:04 p.m., the principal confirmed the name of the student who was shot.
According to the report, two additional students picked up student A on Norwood Road and took him to the hospital for gunshot wounds.
While the report notes the rapid response by the CEO, who is not named, and school staff allowed for the implementation of the district’s response protocol, the reviewers found MCPS needed to evaluate “whether additional adult presence, mobile patrols, or camera monitoring assignments are needed in exterior areas with reduced visibility or supervision.”
Following the shooting, the school implemented several safety measures, including prohibiting students from eating lunch outside for the remainder of the school year and not allowing outside food deliveries. Staff also were tasked with “enhancing school operations and strengthening safety measures,” according to an April 29 letter from Adelekan.
The report follows an after-action report for a Feb. 9 shooting at Rockville’s Thomas S. Wootton High School found that increased adult supervision is “critical to improve school safety.” In that incident, the two students involved moved around the Rockville building during class time with limited adult interaction prior to the shooting, according to the Wootton after-action report.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine