Montgomery County Police say that the reports of gunshots at the Woodmoor Shopping Center Tuesday afternoon that triggered a lockdown at Montgomery Blair High School turned out to be fireworks.
According to an MCPD spokesperson, officers responded to gunshots at the Woodmoor Shopping Center at approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Montgomery Blair High School was placed on lockdown shortly thereafter until approximately 1:30 p.m. Students were asked to shelter in place until 1:40 p.m. when it was determined that the incident was caused by fireworks, not gunshots.
“Blazer Families: A letter is on the way to you soon regarding today’s emergency,” Blair principal Renay Johnson said on Twitter. “Students & staff are safe on campus. Thankfully, the emergency was fireworks in the business community not gunfire. I want to thank @mcpnews for their quick guidance & response to our school today.
“We will have dismissal as scheduled today,” Johnson continued. “Lockdowns can be unsettling for students and staff, our counselors and administrators are available for support.”
Blazer Families: A letter is on the way to you soon regarding today’s emergency. Students & staff are safe on campus. Thankfully, the emergency was fireworks in the business community not gunfire. I want to thank @mcpnews for their quick guidance & response to our school today.
— Renay Johnson (@blairprincipal) January 24, 2023
Photo: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (h/t @MoCoPGNews @CordellTraffic @Silver_Chips)
4 CORNERS SHOOTING SCARE w/ BLAIR HS LOCKDOWN: Woodmoor Shopping Center, University Blvd & Colesville Rd in Silver Spring– MCP dispatched for shots fired, officer pursued a group of teens. The ‘shots’ turned out to be firecrackers, police will remain in the area of the HS. pic.twitter.com/UQhZBjZ1EF
— MoCo PG News (@MoCoPGNews) January 24, 2023
GUN SCARE IN WOODMOOR: ~1PM Tuesday along Colesville Rd near University Blvd East, Woodmoor Shopping Ctr, & Blair HS. Multiple reports of dispute with shots fired. Incident determined to be disturbance involving illegal fireworks. MCP maintaining increased presence in area.
— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) January 24, 2023
Blair went into lockdown today at 1:18 p.m. due to reports of gunshots in the business community across the street. Blair Principal Johnson lifted the lockdown at 1:29 p.m. and the subsequent shelter-in-place at 1:40 p.m. after further investigation revealed they were fireworks
— Silver Chips (@Silver_Chips) January 24, 2023