Democracy Dies in Darkness
Local Education

Former Montgomery College student suspected in school threats, police say

Officials at Montgomery College shut down their three campuses Friday.

1 min
A Montgomery College campus in Rockville in December 2020. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)
By
and 

Police in Maryland are actively searching for a former Montgomery College student accused of sending threatening emails that prompted the school to close its three campuses on Friday.

Yonas Alemseged Harris, 25, is wanted for a threat of mass violence, according to the Takoma Park Police Department. Officials say he sent emails “to Montgomery College officials/employees and the Montgomery County Police Department, indicating he intended to ‘shoot up’ Montgomery College.”

The threat was directed at all three Montgomery College campuses but originated at the Takoma Park location, said Cathy Plevy, a Takoma Park police spokeswoman.

“We take every threat seriously until we determine otherwise,” Plevy said.

Officials from the Rockville-based community college closed all three locations Friday afternoon. A school spokesman said Friday night that they would reopen on Saturday. Montgomery College has campuses in Germantown, Rockville and Takoma Park, plus other offices elsewhere in the county.

Police urged people not to approach Harris if they see him or know where he is. They should instead call the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100.

“We recognize that this situation may cause concern, and we want to assure the public that every precaution is being taken to maintain the safety of our learning environment,” Montgomery College spokesman Marcus Rosano said. “Montgomery College is fully cooperating with law enforcement to resolve this matter as swiftly as possible.”