Watkins Mill High student detained after allegedly bringing gun to school 

No additional threat to Gaithersburg campus, police say

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April 7, 2026 3:39 p.m.

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A student at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg was detained Tuesday after allegedly bringing a firearm on campus, Montgomery County police said Tuesday afternoon on social media.  

Police said officers responded to the high school at 10301 Apple Ridge Road at roughly 12:15 p.m. for the report of a student with a gun. The post did not say who made the report or whether the student was inside or outside of the school. 

According to police, the school was placed on hold status while officers investigated.  

When a school implements a hold status, students must clear the hallways and remain in a room or area until an “all clear” is announced, according to the MCPS website. Staff are required to close and lock classroom doors and account for all students and other adults, but classes should continue. The hold response is meant to be used to keep hallways clear during situations such as medical emergencies.     

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Police posted at 1:29 p.m. that the hold had been lifted.  

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Liliana Lopez didn’t immediately respond to questions Tuesday afternoon about how long the hold lasted.  

Police said the gun was found in possession of a student, who was detained in police custody. The social media post did not say if the student is facing charges. 

“The scene is secure and there is no additional threat to the Watkins Mill Campus,” police said on social media.  

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Tuesday’s incident comes nearly two months after a 16-year-old boy was injured in a February shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville. That incident resulted in an hours-long lockdown that shook the school community.  Another 16-year-old student is facing an attempted murder charge in connection with the shooting. 

Additionally, a Gaithersburg High School student was arrested in March for possession of a loaded handgun on school property.  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine