The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is investigating a hate or bias incident involving graffiti discovered at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, where messages directed at the Muslim community included anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian language.
Police said the incident was reported on Friday, January 16, 2026, when a school resource officer was notified that graffiti had been spray painted on the exterior of the school building. Detectives are asking for the public’s help, and surveillance footage from the area shows several suspects running away from the school toward the football field at approximately 2:31 am. No suspect descriptions have been released.
In response to the incident, the Victims’ Rights Foundation has donated an additional $2,000 toward a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. The graffiti has been painted over as a temporary measure and will require professional removal.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County. Tips may be submitted anonymously and could be eligible for a reward ranging from $250 to $10,000.
