16-year-old Blair student charged as adult in stabbing of fellow student

This story was last updated on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

On Monday, Nov 8., at 10 a.m., Montgomery Blair High School went into lockdown after a Blair student stabbed another Blair student in the school's Colesville-side parking lot.

According to the Moco PG News Twitter account, a 17 year-old juvenile male was stabbed multiple times, and the student's injuries were described as "serious but non life-threatening."

Blair Principal Renay Johnson sent out a letter to the school community regarding the attack, clarifying that the injured student had been transported to a local hospital for "cutting wounds" that were non life-threatening, and the suspect "left school grounds and was returned to school by the student’s parents and taken into custody by Montgomery County Police."

Blair parking lot following stabbing

Photo: A view of Blair's Colesville-side parking lot where at least one person was stabbed during a fight between multiple individuals. Photo courtesy of Ayyoob Berhane.

A view of Blair's Colesville-side parking lot where at least one person was stabbed during a fight between multiple individuals. Photo courtesy of Ayyoob Berhane. Photo courtesy of Ayyoob Berhane.

According to the Bethesda Beat, the injured student suffered a puncture wound "on his back near his spinal cord" in addition to his cutting wounds. The altercation that led to the stabbing began in a nearby McDonalds' parking lot before the students moved to the school parking lot.

At 11 a.m., the lockdown was modified to a Shelter-in-Place so that teachers and students could resume class.

During lunch, students were required to stay inside the building in order to assist the ongoing investigation. Dismissal and after-school activities continued as normal.

Johnson thanked Montgomery County Police, her administrative staff and central office personnel "for their swift action in securing our campus and ensuring our students were safe."

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, a relative of the stabbing suspect was arrested for bringing a knife to school. In a second letter to the community, Johnson stated, "In following school safety and security protocols, a self-search was conducted and a knife was recovered. The student's family was informed and he was taken into custody by Montgomery County Police."

Johnson also acknowledged that the student who was injured in yesterday's stabbing had been released from the hospital to recover at home.

The stabbing suspect, a 16-year-old Blair student, has been charged as an adult with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He is being held without bond in an adult facility.

Also on Tuesday, MCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight released a message condemning the "multiple serious incidents on school grounds" during the past few weeks. She urged parents and students to contact their school administration, local police, or the Maryland SafeSchools Tipline at 833-632-7233 if they know someone who "has a weapon or is planning to hurt themselves or others at a school."

So far this school year, Montgomery County Police have responded to MCPS schools for 48 assaults and one stabbing, according to Stephanie Ramirez of Fox 5 DC. Data from the last pre-COVID-19 school year, 2018-2019, showed that there were 51 physical assaults/attacks at MCPS high schools, and only 12 had a police response.

This story will be updated as more information comes in.