Police Drone Aids in Arrest of Seven Teens After Shots Fired Incident

Montgomery County Police say that seven teenagers were arrested in connection with a shooting incident near Sligo Middle School on Friday afternoon.

An MCPD press release stated that officers from the 4th District responded to a call about shots being fired at University Boulevard West at Gable Street around 1:22 p.m. on Friday. The officers reported that a group of teenage males, mostly dressed in black, fled towards Sligo Creek Parkway near Tenbrook Drive. To aid in locating the teenagers, the Raven 2 drone was deployed.

The Raven 2 drone swiftly identified individuals matching the description on the Sligo Creek Parkway Trail near Sligo Middle School. It maintained visual contact and directed MCPD and Maryland National Capital Park Police officers to the location. The teenagers attempted to escape towards Sligo Middle School, prompting a brief lockdown. Law enforcement officers set up a perimeter and successfully detained all seven teenagers.

Authorities recovered two BB guns and found shell casings from a handgun, which remains unlocated, in the vicinity where the shots were reported.

Sligo Middle School was placed into lockdown as officers responded to the shooting, according to The MoCo Show. “Sligo Middle School was put in a lockdown and shelter-in-place due to a potential threat in the community,” Principal Peter Crable said in a community message Friday afternoon. “All students and staff were safe and secure in their locations. The lockdown was lifted at 2 p.m. and the police have deemed the area around the school safe. We are currently in a shelter-in-place. Staff and students have resumed instruction as we wait for additional instructions from the authorities. Parents and caregivers may now pick up students.”

The arrested individuals, juveniles aged between 14 and 15, were taken to the 4th District station and are set to be released to their parents, MCPD said Friday. Some of the teenagers were not residents of Montgomery County.

MCPD Graphic

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