UPDATE 4: Additional suspects have been identified and charged.
UPDATE 3: An arrest has been made – details here.
UPDATE 2: Video from the incident has been added at the bottom of this story.
UPDATE: Del. Christian Miele has confirmed with police that this incident took place on the parking lot at Perry Hall High School. The school’s video cameras corroborate that there was a melee on school grounds.
The photograph shown is a still frame from the video obtained by the Baltimore County Police Department. The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. on Thursday and it did involve at least some current PHHS students. Police are currently working to identify everyone involved.
The police believe that the firearm may have been a replica gun, but they are treating it as if it were a real firearm out of abundance of caution and for the purposes of the investigation.
Original story below…
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Local officials are in an uproar after a Thursday incident at Perry Hall High School.
The school has not released specific details surrounding the incident, but reports indicate that a student was beaten on the parking lot Thursday afternoon, a weapon was displayed, and police responded to the scene.
“Dear Parents and Guardians of Perry Hall High School,” the school wrote in an email to parents. “I am writing to inform you of an incident that was brought to my attention this afternoon which may have occurred in the parking lot at school and might be circulating on social media. The incident is currently being investigated by the Baltimore County Police. Out of an abundance of caution, I have requested additional police to be present at Perry Hall High School tomorrow, January 19, until this police investigation has been concluded.”
“At this point, we have not been made aware of any credible threat toward any of our students or staff, and the school will operate as normal,” the email continued. “I will continue to keep our community informed once the police investigation has concluded.”
Local officials are not satisfied with Perry Hall High School’s response.
“I’ve had it,” said Baltimore County Councilman David Marks. “Any student who carries a gun on school property—or a replica of a gun—should be expelled and charged as an adult, period. End of story.”
Baltimore County Public School Board Member Julie Henn also expressed her displeasure on Facebook.
“BCPS’ practice of transferring students with disciplinary problems out of their assigned schools and into Perry Hall schools is NOT the solution and CANNOT be allowed to continue,” Henn said.
The Perry Hall Improvement Association also weighed in.
“The PHIA is calling for an audit of the Perry Hall High School Security and audit of where the students are coming from,” PHIA officials said. “The Police Department and Board of Education need to explain why the lack of control on security is consistently happening at Perry Hall High School. Why are the community officials not being notified? Why is information on incidents that happen being swept until the rug? The PHIA and Councilman were NOT notified of yesterdays group of students attacking one student and a rifle being shown on video and photo. We only found out via Facebook posts by concerned parents.”
“I am appalled and deeply disturbed by the recent incident of violence on the parking lot of Perry Hall High School,” said Delegate Christian Miele. “Bullying, physical violence, and firearms (or replica guns) have no place on school grounds or in our community.”
Neither Perry Hall High School nor the Baltimore County Police Department has released additional details surrounding Thursday’s incident.
You can view video from the incident below. We apologize for the language displayed in the video…
