A 15-year-old student from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School has been charged with making bomb threats that led to a major response from SWAT and K-9 units on May 16. The Montgomery County Police Department reported the incident, which caused significant alarm at the school.
The investigation, carried out by local police and the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, revealed that a 15-year-old student used social media to recruit a 12-year-old boy from Pennsylvania to make bomb threats. The 12-year-old called in threats to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Walt Whitman High School, and Bethesda Elementary School on May 17.
The accused scheme involved the caller demanding money, threatening that explosives would be used if payment wasn't made. However, Maryland law prevents charging someone so young, that the 12-year-old boy won’t face legal consequences. Despite this, his actions have significantly disrupted the normalcy of the affected schools, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.
The 15-year-old student, facing charges of threats of mass violence, making false statements, and extortion. During the incident, the student communicated with his young accomplice in real time. Although no bombs were found and the threat turned out to be false, the event left students feeling less secure, according to the police.
After being charged, the Bethesda teenager was released to his parents. The courts will determine the consequences for him and the caller from Pennsylvania.
