Maryland Teen Paid 12-Year-Old Boy to Terrorize Schools With Bomb Threats

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Maryland – A 15-year-old Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student has been charged in connection with a series of bomb threats that led to a school lockdown and a large-scale police response in early May.

SWAT, K-9 units and other resources were called in to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The Montgomery County Police Department, working with the FBI's Baltimore Field Office, identified a 12-year-old boy from Pennsylvania as the individual who made the threatening calls.

The 15-year-old Bethesda student is accused of soliciting the help of a 12-year-old boy through social media, paying him an undisclosed amount of money to report the bomb threats.

Authorities also linked the duo to other bomb threats made against Walt Whitman High School and Bethesda Elementary School on May 17.

The 15-year-old is said to have been communicating in real time with the younger boy during the incident, providing him with updates and instructions as the threats were made.

The caller demanded a specific amount of money to prevent bombs from going off at the school.

The threats caused significant disruption, leading to lockdowns and a heavy emotional toll on students, staff and the community. After a thorough search, no bombs were found and students were eventually dismissed for the day.

Maryland state law prohibits charges against the 12-year-old. However, the 15-year-old has been charged with multiple counts, including threats of mass violence, making a false statement and extortion.

He was released into the custody of his family following the charges.