The Montgomery County Department of Police has arrested a 16-year-old Bethesda male in connection with vandalism and an arson incident at Bradley Hills Elementary School.
The suspect, a student at Walt Whitman High School, was taken into custody at approximately 10:22am on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and a search warrant was executed at his home following the arrest. He is charged with two counts of second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property, threats of mass violence, and one count of altering physical evidence.
The investigation began on Saturday, April 11, when 2nd District officers responded to the school in the 9700 block of Hartsdale Avenue for a report of vandalism. Officers discovered graffiti referencing a previous school shooting on school property. Investigators also determined that a storage shed on campus had been intentionally set on fire about one week earlier.
Detectives with MCPD’s Threat Assessment and Behavioral Solutions Unit identified the suspect on April 12 and obtained a search warrant for his electronic devices, recovering items of evidentiary value. The case was investigated jointly with the Montgomery County Fire and Explosives Investigations Unit. Police said there is no ongoing threat to the school or the public, and the case will be referred to the Department of Juvenile Services for disposition.
