Bethesda Teen Charged In 3 MOCO School Bomb Threats

BETHESDA, MD — A 15-year-old Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student has been charged in connection with bomb threats made against the school on May 16. The threats led to a lockdown of the school and the deployment of SWAT, K-9 units, and other responders to ensure the safety of students and staff, the Montgomery County police department said.

Local police and the FBI's Baltimore Field Office identified a 12-year-old Pennsylvania boy as the caller who made the threat.

The boys are also responsible for bomb threats made to Walt Whitman High School and Bethesda Elementary School on May 17, a police news release.

The 15-year-old is accused of soliciting help on social media to have someone to call in a bomb threat at his school, and paying the 12-year-old an undisclosed amount of money to carry out the threat.

The Bethesda teen has been charged with multiple counts, including threats of mass violence, making a false statement, extortion and other felony charges related to the event. The 15-year-old was released to his family.

During the incident, the 15-year-old communicated in real-time with the 12-year-old, providing information, updates and instructions as the threats were being made, police said. The caller demanded that money be paid to prevent bombs from detonating at the school.

After a search of the campus, it was determined that no bombs were present, and students were dismissed for the day.

Maryland state law prohibits charges from being filed against the 12-year-old.