News Releases

Detectives Seek Public’s Help Identifying Suspects in Hate/Bias Vandalism at Walt Whitman High School

For Immediate Release: Saturday, January 17, 2026

Gaithersburg, MD – Following a hate/bias incident at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, the Victims’ Rights Foundation has donated an additional $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any suspect(s).

 

On Friday, January 16, 2026, an officer assigned to the school was notified that graffiti had been spray painted on the exterior of the school building. The messages were directed at the Muslim community and included anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian language. 

 

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police are investigating and asking for the public’s help to identify any potential suspects. 

 

Surveillance footage from the area shows several suspects running away from the school toward the football field at approximately 2:31 a.m. There is no suspect description available at this time. 

 

The graffiti was painted over as a temporary measure and will need to be professionally removed. 

 

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspects or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tips may remain anonymous. 

# # #

Release ID: 26-023
Media Contact: DBartels 
Categories: vandalism