Multiple sources reached out to us regarding the January 2nd fight at B-CC (Bethesda Chevy Chase High School) that prompted a press release from Councilmember Jawando on January 4th, 2024 and news articles by MyMCMedia and MoCo360. Interestingly, these articles both state that B-CC principal Dr. Shelton L. Mooney will send out a community letter later on January 4th – once the incident was covered by the press, not when the incident occurred.
Video and More Details and Context on Fight
Moderately MOCO received and viewed a blurred out copy of the video of the fight and also received additional details about the incident as well as prior incidents involving these students and others. Due to the fight involving minors, we will not be publishing the video but you can see screenshots in the featured image that include two staff members on the ground after trying to break up the fight.
Initially we posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) that the fight seemed to be a run of the mill fight but later received more alleged details and context about the fight which is printed below (you can also see the X post here).
More info makes a little more sense of why this fight made the news/press release:
In this fight, the principal was knocked to the ground. The head of security was too and was pinned against the wall. He’s pretty seriously injured. Unknown when/if he will return to school.
It’s three kids in the fight, one is notorious for starting fights in and around school and never attending class. He severely beat a football player last year on a sidewalk by the school – sent the player to the hospital.
Another with an ankle monitor has been expelled from Clarksburg, Whitman, and Blair – where he found the principal’s home address and threatened her daughter. The suspension for the students ends Monday, when they will be back.
Lots of threats of retaliation. Security is afraid, teachers are talking about leaving. It’s the backstory that no one is willing to talk about that makes this a big deal.
Police couldn’t make it when 911 was called because they were at another emergency.
Additionally, two BCC students are currently being held without bond for armed carjackings (they are 18); more than 10 have been arrested for carjacking related offenses this school year. BCC kids were allegedly part of the looting of the Nike store on Bethesda Row. Then there was the fight after the WJ game. Finally, a BCC security team member was severely beaten two years ago. A lot of violent crime issues. Not sure how this compares to other schools but a lot of issues and arrests in recent years.
https://x.com/ModeratelyMoco/status/1743821679657120087?s=20
According to the BCC Tattler student run newspaper, last year B-CC had the second highest number of incidents reported to MCPD in the county last year.
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Obvious safety concerns aside, what liability does MCPS have to the injured staff member(s) and to anyone injured in future incidents?
MCPS response
We reached out to MCPS spokesperson Chris Cram with specific questions about this incident (and also the information above) and received this response:
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Infractions and disciplinary measures are well-defined in the MCPS Student Code of Conduct. Responses are available to school administrators on a progressive scale, from behavior interventions to in-school discipline, out-of-school discipline, reassignment, suspension, or expulsion. I would encourage you to review the “Code of Conduct” beginning on page nine for a better understanding of these matters.
Specific discipline assigned to any student is governed by strict privacy rules provided for by law requiring limited comment. There is always and rightfully investigation, due process and action in alignment with district policy and the MCPS Student Code of Conduct as a result of every infraction as safety is a priority for students and staff.
Other sources inside MCPS have let us know that BCC will have a school wide parent meeting on the 17th that will address the safety issue.
B-CC Community Letter Sent January 4th
As noted above, no community letter was sent after the incident until after it was reported in the press.
We have obtained a copy of the community letter and you can view it below.
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