16 year old arrested with loaded gun, charged with attempted murder in Maryland; police
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a 16-year-old with attempted first-degree murder following a shooting in Germantown.
The suspect, identified as Jaiden Ochieng from Clarksburg, is a student at Northwest High School, FOX 5 has learned.
He was arrested in connection with a March 13 incident on Archdale Road, according to authorities.
Around 2:59 p.m. that day, police say Ochieng arrived at the 19300 block of Archdale Road in a stolen Hyundai.
A 15-year-old male victim, who had just stepped off a school bus, was then chased by Ochieng, who allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired at him.
Fortunately, the victim was not injured. Police later recovered two shell casings near Trophy Court and Archdale Road. By then, Ochieng had fled the scene.
Last week, on Sept. 6, officers obtained an arrest warrant and charged him with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and various firearms and theft-related charges.
A county police spokesperson tells FOX 5's Stephanie Ramirez that the 16-year-old suspect was arrested as he was leaving Northwest High School Friday afternoon. Officers waited for him and arrested him just off-campus after school. Police believe he had a gun on him all day that he allegedly tossed, leading them to add more charges.
Police say they recovered that loaded handgun, which had been reported stolen from Clinton, Maryland.
Ochieng has been charged as an adult and is currently being held without bond.
In a statement, MCPS expressed "great concern" regarding the revelation that Ochieng had a firearm on school property.
"We have been informed by the Montgomery County Police Department of the arrest of a 16-year-old youth near one of our schools. The charges include possession of a firearm on school property," the statement reads. "This development is of great concern to our school community. We treat every day like there is the potential for imminent threat in all of our schools. We are thankful for the work of our law enforcement partners."
This arrest comes on the heels of another gun-related incident involving MCPS students.
On Sept. 3, principals from Wheaton High School, Kennedy High School, and Odessa Shannon Middle School sent a joint letter to families alerting them to a shooting near Glenmont Circle, where a 15-year-old allegedly fired shots at a vehicle. A 13-year-old and a 15-year-old were arrested in that case.
As the largest school district in Maryland, MCPS schools do not currently have metal detectors, raising concerns among parents and the community.
Several parents at Northwest High School expressed their concerns about the recent incidents and the district’s protocols for notifying families and staff.
FOX 5 has repeatedly asked MCPS for clarity. We hope to get answers soon.
Ochieng remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
FOX 5's Shomari Stone visited the home of Ochieng in an attempt to get a statement from the family. Someone spoke on the doorbell camera from inside the Clarksburg home but did not want to answer any questions.
Read the full letter sent to Northwest High School families below: