Magruder HS Shooting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We were on lockdown. Police wouldn’t let us leave rooms for any reason. School was treated as a crime scene basically, so no one could leave rooms. No food or drink except for what kids had on them. It’s not like the cafeteria was open or anything.

We were not given any details or updates while in the building regarding events going on. Except for a photo sent out asking if that person was in anyone’s room. Not sure if that person was directly involved or not. No information about ongoing threats, suspect in a room. The issue was first treated as a health issue when the boy was found and ambulances were called. The school was put on lockdown to allow ambulance personnel to arrive. The first thought is that he injured himself intentionally but there was no knife. Then there was the realization that it must be a gunshot when the ambulance crew determined the injury, but no gun was found. So obviously there must be another student involved. It took time to ID the student, determine location and make a plan to remove student from the classroom safely. That explains the two hours of time needed before the suspect was apprehended and the lack of communication so that no one was tipped off.

Once he was apprehended, evidence collected , and they made sure no one was involved then the moved to securing the building and removing students. At that point there were 35 police cars and overhead news chopper and the local inspections had been closed backing up all the traffic. Obviously McKnight and others didn’t have a helicopter to arrive on site. Traffic was backed up for miles. Kids could leave in until buses arrived which is also when the McKnight and other staff were finally able arrive. There was not conspiracy or anything. Just traffic. Staff stayed until almost 7pm when we had a short meeting with no details given except a reference to “health emergency” and introductions to the the county staff in charge of things going forward. They asked us not to give interviews.

Thanks for the report and for taking care of your students. I don't really fault school admin for the incorrect information given initially -- it was a rapidly changing situation and it was hard to figure things out.

BS. No one heard a gun shot???

Often in emergency situations where things are wrong, information first reported is not fully accurate. Yes it’s very possible people didn’t hear a gun shot or know what it even was. Stop looking to cast blame on, that s*** is getting old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Magruder teacher if anyone has any questions. Kids were very good during the lockdown. Staff were pretty positive. All of us are new to this so it is hard to process it. Felt like a normal day. Lockdown was relaxed with most students just on phones. The worst part by far was not being able to use the restroom.

I agree that communication sucked. They wouldnt even tell us any details even though it’s all over the news/Twitter.

I'm sorry you had to experience this.
Can you confirm:
so no food, drink or bathrooms.
and held an additional hour to wait for the super.
and suspect was among the student body for 2 hours before apprehended (when parents? thought the threat was over)? Did you realize shooter was still at the school?

We were on lockdown. Police wouldn’t let us leave rooms for any reason. School was treated as a crime scene basically, so no one could leave rooms. No food or drink except for what kids had on them. It’s not like the cafeteria was open or anything.

We were not given any details or updates while in the building regarding events going on. Except for a photo sent out asking if that person was in anyone’s room. Not sure if that person was directly involved or not. No information about ongoing threats, suspect in a room. The issue was first treated as a health issue when the boy was found and ambulances were called. The school was put on lockdown to allow ambulance personnel to arrive. The first thought is that he injured himself intentionally but there was no knife. Then there was the realization that it must be a gunshot when the ambulance crew determined the injury, but no gun was found. So obviously there must be another student involved. It took time to ID the student, determine location and make a plan to remove student from the classroom safely. That explains the two hours of time needed before the suspect was apprehended and the lack of communication so that no one was tipped off.

Once he was apprehended, evidence collected , and they made sure no one was involved then the moved to securing the building and removing students. At that point there were 35 police cars and overhead news chopper and the local inspections had been closed backing up all the traffic. Obviously McKnight and others didn’t have a helicopter to arrive on site. Traffic was backed up for miles. Kids could leave in until buses arrived which is also when the McKnight and other staff were finally able arrive. There was not conspiracy or anything. Just traffic. Staff stayed until almost 7pm when we had a short meeting with no details given except a reference to “health emergency” and introductions to the the county staff in charge of things going forward. They asked us not to give interviews.

If we had more police in this county the superintendent would have been escorted to the scene.
The buses would have been escorted to the staging area.
This county is an absolute disaster.

[Anonymous]

If the safety and well-being of students is a top priority, the students would not have been still at school while press conference is happening. This is where a leader says, “No wait, let’s get the kids out first.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

No, because it's a given the shooter is the culprit.

However, given the unconscionable number of school shootings in this country (I'm European, and most EU countries don't have any), you'd think police and schools would have a plan for every possible shooting situation, no?!?!?!

[Anonymous]

How did the other talking heads get through this impossible traffic but not McKnight?
Give it a rest.

[Anonymous]

A student was found injured with a gunshot in a bathroom and their first thought was he shot himself?!?!?!
I don't buy it.
How long does it take to search a critically injured person for a gun???

1 minute?
2?

They had a shooter with a gun LOCKED in a classroom with inherent students for hours!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

No, because it's a given the shooter is the culprit.

However, given the unconscionable number of school shootings in this country (I'm European, and most EU countries don't have any), you'd think police and schools would have a plan for every possible shooting situation, no?!?!?!

I agree. But I don't think they want to incorrectly identify someone as the shooter, and he wasn't running around or off campus. I have no idea what the protocols are. Maybe they should re-evalute them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

I don’t fault administration either. They didn’t want to tip the suspect off. This was a complicated situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

No, because it's a given the shooter is the culprit.

However, given the unconscionable number of school shootings in this country (I'm European, and most EU countries don't have any), you'd think police and schools would have a plan for every possible shooting situation, no?!?!?!

I agree. But I don't think they want to incorrectly identify someone as the shooter, and he wasn't running around or off campus. I have no idea what the protocols are. Maybe they should re-evalute them.

He was in a room with potential victims for more than an hour. That's enough to blame law enforcement and school admin.

Can you imagine that if it had gone another way, all the people in that room would be dead right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s just been too many excuses and too much “bad luck” this school year in MCPS. McKnight has proven incapable of keeping our kids safe from COVID or violence.

I feel bad for all these kids who have had to live through this pandemic and now have this trauma on top of it. I hope that MCPS is able to at least provide counseling, if it’s capable of doing anything but I’m not holding out hope.

I’m just absolutely done with the this school system.

Get a grip. Vote for politicians against guns. Educators are not responsible for how easy it is to get a gun and for lack of mental health resources. You’re blaming the wrong people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was an ARMED shooter in the school for TWO HOURS and they said "no threat."

Read that again.

It would’ve been mass panic if they hadn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

I don’t fault administration either. They didn’t want to tip the suspect off. This was a complicated situation.

Lack of communication is fine. But waiting hours to catch him is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Magruder teacher if anyone has any questions. Kids were very good during the lockdown. Staff were pretty positive. All of us are new to this so it is hard to process it. Felt like a normal day. Lockdown was relaxed with most students just on phones. The worst part by far was not being able to use the restroom.

I agree that communication sucked. They wouldnt even tell us any details even though it’s all over the news/Twitter.

I'm sorry you had to experience this.
Can you confirm:
so no food, drink or bathrooms.
and held an additional hour to wait for the super.
and suspect was among the student body for 2 hours before apprehended (when parents? thought the threat was over)? Did you realize shooter was still at the school?

We were on lockdown. Police wouldn’t let us leave rooms for any reason. School was treated as a crime scene basically, so no one could leave rooms. No food or drink except for what kids had on them. It’s not like the cafeteria was open or anything.

We were not given any details or updates while in the building regarding events going on. Except for a photo sent out asking if that person was in anyone’s room. Not sure if that person was directly involved or not. No information about ongoing threats, suspect in a room. The issue was first treated as a health issue when the boy was found and ambulances were called. The school was put on lockdown to allow ambulance personnel to arrive. The first thought is that he injured himself intentionally but there was no knife. Then there was the realization that it must be a gunshot when the ambulance crew determined the injury, but no gun was found. So obviously there must be another student involved. It took time to ID the student, determine location and make a plan to remove student from the classroom safely. That explains the two hours of time needed before the suspect was apprehended and the lack of communication so that no one was tipped off.

Once he was apprehended, evidence collected , and they made sure no one was involved then the moved to securing the building and removing students. At that point there were 35 police cars and overhead news chopper and the local inspections had been closed backing up all the traffic. Obviously McKnight and others didn’t have a helicopter to arrive on site. Traffic was backed up for miles. Kids could leave in until buses arrived which is also when the McKnight and other staff were finally able arrive. There was not conspiracy or anything. Just traffic. Staff stayed until almost 7pm when we had a short meeting with no details given except a reference to “health emergency” and introductions to the the county staff in charge of things going forward. They asked us not to give interviews.

Thank you for this thoughtful and thorough response after what must have been a horrendous day.
You must have been a source of calm for you students.
Again, I'm really sorry for that this is happening so often in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

There is zero excuse why a gun should be at any school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not defending poor communication but this doesn't sound like a "typical" school shooting situation (I know that sounds terrible). If the victim couldn't communicate or identify the shooter while he is bleeding/seriously wounded, then it is going to take some time to figure out who the shooter is/where he is.

We're often quick to blame administration, police, etc. when all the blame should be placed on the shooter (and possibly his parents).

No, because it's a given the shooter is the culprit.

However, given the unconscionable number of school shootings in this country (I'm European, and most EU countries don't have any), you'd think police and schools would have a plan for every possible shooting situation, no?!?!?!

I agree. But I don't think they want to incorrectly identify someone as the shooter, and he wasn't running around or off campus. I have no idea what the protocols are. Maybe they should re-evalute them.

He was in a room with potential victims for more than an hour. That's enough to blame law enforcement and school admin.

Can you imagine that if it had gone another way, all the people in that room would be dead right now?

I think them being there for an hour was by design. They wanted to calmly and discreetly remove the shooter, not cause him to panic and shoot others.