News Releases

High School Student Being Held Without Bond Following School Shooting

For Immediate Release: Saturday, January 22, 2022

Gaithersburg, MD - A 17-year-old Magruder High School Student is in custody following a shooting at the school on Friday, January 21, 2022.

At approximately 1 p.m., Montgomery County Police were called to the high school located on Muncaster Mill Road in Rockville, when a 15-year-old male student was discovered inside a student bathroom by school security with a gunshot wound. Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded to the school and provided medical assistance to the student, who was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.

The school went into a full lockdown at 1:05 p.m. and the building was secured. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s department, along with SWAT, assisted patrol in securing and searching the building. MCPD detectives worked simultaneously to investigate leads and identified a suspect.

The suspect, Steven Alston Jr., an 11th grade Magruder student, was located inside a classroom and taken into custody shortly after 3 p.m. A privately manufactured firearm (ghost gun) was found inside the school, which is believed to be the gun used by Alston, Jr.

During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the incident involved Alston, Jr. and the victim, a 10th grade Magruder student. There is no evidence to suggest that Alston, Jr. was targeting anyone else within the school.

Steven Alston Jr. has been charged with Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, 1st Degree Assault, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony/Violent Crime, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on School Property and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor. He is being charged as an adult. This is an active and ongoing investigation.

The victim is in an area hospital and listed in critical condition. Alston Jr. is being held without bond.

 

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Release ID: 22-049
Media Contact: S.D. Goff 
Categories: school-threats