Roadways surrounding Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, were shut down Monday afternoon after a shooting inside the building prompted an immediate lockdown and a large police response. Authorities urged parents not to come directly to the school as law enforcement worked to secure the campus and investigate the incident.
According to Montgomery County Police, officers responded to reports of gunfire at the high school at approximately 2:15 p.m. Upon entering the building, police discovered a student who had been shot in a hallway. The injured student was transported to a nearby hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Another student was taken into custody shortly afterward, though officials have not released details regarding a possible motive, suspect identity, or the exact location of the shooting on campus.
Police described the situation as an active incident during the initial response. Students and staff were ordered to remain inside classrooms while officers conducted a methodical search of the school. All access roads leading to the campus were closed as a safety precaution, further reinforcing requests for parents to stay away from the area.
Students who had already left campus expressed shock and fear as news spread. One student described the atmosphere inside the school as tense and frightening, noting that many students were visibly shaken by the unfolding events.
Montgomery County Police announced that a reunification site for families would be established at Robert Frost Middle School on Scott Drive. Officials stated that students who normally ride buses would follow their regular routes home, and parents of those students were specifically asked not to travel to the high school. Information regarding reunification for students who do not ride buses was expected to be shared later.
Parents waiting nearby voiced concern and frustration. One father, who rushed to the school after receiving a message from his child, expressed fears rooted in past school shooting tragedies and questioned whether public schools could adequately protect students. He indicated that the incident had led him to reconsider traditional schooling options for his family.
Montgomery County Public Schools does not currently use metal detectors, though community resource officers are assigned to all county high schools. County Executive Marc Elrich released a statement confirming that a person was in custody and emphasizing that student safety remains the county’s highest priority. He urged residents to rely on official updates and warned against misinformation as the investigation continues.
The shooting has renewed attention on campus safety at Wootton High School, which was also the site of a thwarted shooting plot in 2024. That earlier case resulted in the arrest and 2025 conviction of a former student, underscoring ongoing concerns about school security in the region.
