By Ryan Miner | A Miner Detail
Published: Feb. 9, 2026 | Updated: 3:39 p.m.
One person was shot inside Thomas S. Wootton High School on Monday afternoon and a suspect is in custody, according to the Montgomery County Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to the school at approximately 2:15 p.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. The shooting occurred inside the building, police said.
“MCPD has one person in custody related to the Wootton High School shooting,” the department posted on X at approximately 3:23 p.m. “More information will be released when available.”
The school was placed on lockdown and dismissal was put on hold.
Montgomery County Public Schools notified the school community that the campus was locked down due to an alleged student shooting and said updates would be provided every 15 minutes as new information was verified.
Rockville City Councilmember Adam Van Grack, who was at the scene with Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police, confirmed the arrest on X.
“A lot of rumors going around,” Van Grack wrote. “Please ONLY trust official County and City Sources for information about students and details. Police do have a suspect in custody. Thank you to these amazing officers. Please keep everyone in your prayers right now.”
Pete Piringer, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, said all roads to the school have been closed and the media staging area is at 800 Hurley Avenue. Police said parents should go to Robert Frost Middle School at 9201 Scott Drive for reunification with their children.
The victim is a student who was shot in the stomach, according to law enforcement sources. Police have not released the student’s identity or condition.
The identity of the suspect has not been released.
Wootton High School, located at 2100 Wootton Parkway, is one of 30 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools system and has an enrollment of approximately 1,870 students.
The shooting comes less than two years after former Wootton student Alex Ye was arrested in April 2024 for writing a 129-page manifesto detailing plans for a mass shooting at the school.
Ye was found guilty in December 2024 of one count of threat of mass violence.
There is no known connection between today’s shooting and the Ye case.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
