No bond for Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS student accused of firing shots during fight near school
No bond for Bethesda Chevy-Chase HS student facing gun charges
A Bethesda teenager charged in a shooting incident near a high school will remain behind bars for now. Friday afternoon, a Montgomery County judge called the teen a danger to the community.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - A Bethesda teenager charged in a shooting incident near a high school will remain behind bars for now. In court Friday afternoon, a Montgomery County judge called the teen a danger to the community.
Two teens face charges
What we know:
There are two Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students charged in this case. One is a juvenile, so their identity is protected. The other is 18-year-old Nico Blanco. He is facing nine counts that carry a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Blanco is charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and other firearm-related charges. Prosecutors say he brought a loaded gun to a fight at a park near B-CC Wednesday morning – and it was all caught on camera.
The prosecutors showed the judge a photo they say is Blaco, pointing a gun during the fight. Police later executed a search warrant at Blanco's Bethesda apartment, where we're told no guns were found. Police also seized Blanco's car from the garage at his apartment building.
What started the fight?
What they're saying:
FOX 5 spoke to Rex Garcia-Hidalgo, president of the B-CC Booster Cub. He's plugged into the school community and knows the students well.
"From what they tell me, this kid is known to have a gun and they know that he brings it to school. You know obviously there are no detectors, there's no police anymore at school, so anyway they scheduled a rumble at the park – Chase Park near CVS – and from what my sources tell me, it was over a sophomore girl. There was a dispute about a sophomore girl and it was involved a bunch of seniors," Garcia-Hidalgo said.
Blanco’s father was in court but did not want to speak with FOX 5. The teen's lawyer also would not comment on the case.
States attorney John McCarty did offer comment, however, saying, "I can tell you I'm meeting with the superintendent next week on a number of issues... but I'm sure during the course of my meeting with him we will be discussing this. What steps we can take together as a community to make sure that our learning environments are safe and clearly there is absolutely no place for guns in or near any of our schools."
Parents question how to protect students at school following shooting near BCC
After shots were fired following a fight near Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, a big question that remains unanswered is whether the students who had guns in the fight brought them into school. It’s causing concern among parents about safety in school and what can be done to keep kids secure.
Parents express concern
Local perspective:
Now, a big question that remains unanswered is whether the students who had guns in the fight brought them into school.
It’s causing concern among parents about safety in school and what can be done to keep kids secure. While this incident happened near Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School – not in the school – it involved students and triggered a lockdown. One teacher who was in the building for the lockdown said the direction they received was professional, the kids were calm and prepared.
"We do drills a lot and, I mean, it’s unfortunate, but in the age of school shootings and gun violence we have to and so, because we practiced, I mean it was just like automatic. The shades all moved to the proper spot. They knew what they needed to do," teacher James Sawhill said. "The school did a really good job. You know, we were getting emails from the administration every 15 minutes, so I could tell the kids what was going on."
It was one of the only times he said he was glad phones were allowed in the classroom so students could keep their parents updated. The school sent out a letter Friday with information on what happened during Wednesday's lockdown and what they are doing to offer support for anyone that may be experiencing trauma as a result of the incident. A community meeting is being held on March 4 for students, staff and families to discuss public safety.
At the beginning of the school year, the county was in the early stages of considering metal detectors for schools. Neighboring Prince George's County already had them installed.
"I think it would help. I don't know if I would be in favor of it, but I think it would help. I think it’s a way certainly to determine you know what people are bringing in and out of the school , but it would seem to be a very sad development if it had to get to that," mom Marla Bilonick said.
The school said they will be seeking feedback from students and staff to help them refine their response in future critical events.
The Source: FOX 5 reporting, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Maryland Capital Park Police