MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — After an emotionally draining 24 hours since a shooting inside Wootton High School in Montgomery County, Md., sent a 16-year-old boy to the hospital and shockwaves across the community, frustrations from parents boiled over at times over the course of two information meetings held at the school’s auditorium Tuesday.
Before the meetings began, parents were nearly brought to tears when remembering the texts or calls they received letting them know their worst nightmare had just happened: a shooting inside their child’s school.
“The first text I got from my boy was, ‘We have a lockdown. I’m scared. Please pray.’ ‘I’m shaking,’ that was the second one. I froze,” said parent Ade Pifano.
READ MORE | 16-year-old student faces attempted murder charge in Wootton High School shooting
Beth Steiner, another parent, also recalled the terrifying moments, telling 7News, “It is an absolute nightmare from a parent perspective. But to know the teachers and the staff had to deal with it firsthand, worry about themselves and their own safety, and then close and lock the doors to keep our babies safe.”
Soon after the shooting, police arrested Kahlil White-Villatoro, the 16-year-old boy detectives believe pulled the trigger. Investigators also said White-Villatoro pointed his gun at a 15-year-old girl before the shooting, though that girl was not hurt. The suspect now faces assault and attempted murder charges, among others.
According to Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor, attendance at Wootton on Tuesday was around 40%.
While some students stayed home, parents walked through the school’s doors to attend the meetings held to provide information on the school’s immediate response to the shootings, counseling resources available to students, and safety measures being taken.
Cameras and journalists were not allowed inside the auditorium during the meeting, to provide space for parents. But we were allowed to listen from the hallway.
Some parents told 7News they heard the information they were seeking.
However, some parents had vocal outbursts when told there would be no Q-and-A at the meeting.
“I think that was very embarrassing. We came here because we expected they were going to answer our questions but, unfortunately, they didn’t answer our questions,” said parent Samuel Aze.
7News asked Taylor about the decision not to have time in the meeting for parents to ask questions.
He said he understood the frustration parents had.
“There’s, undoubtedly, a range of emotions that folks are going through right now. I want to validate this is terrible. This has been awful. It’s deeply unsettling. We are heartbroken we’ve experienced this,” Taylor said. I’m right there with our parents. I’m angry. I’m upset. I’m frustrated. I’m exhausted, just like they are and just like their kids are, just like our teachers are. We’re doing our very best to recreate that safe environment for our kids and for our staff.”
During the meeting, Taylor said there were immediate actions being taken to address concerns in the wake of the shooting.
“I think there are some strategies right out of the gate that are going to help us become safer. We have a couple of areas in the school that we know we’re going to outfit tomorrow – literally tomorrow – with security cameras as well as some door features. We will have additional security assistance here for the remainder of the year, as well as additional law enforcement,” Taylor said.
Some parents had their own ideas for safety measures.
“I hope we hear that, maybe, we’ll have metal detectors because all schools are supposed to be safe,” said parent Linda Keita. “I think they’re doing their best. I just hope this never happens again.”
Aze added, “I think what they should do that they didn’t mention is the measures they can take immediately by searching all the bags of all the students who are coming to the school.”
Currently, MCPS does not have metal or weapons detectors in schools.
However, the school district is considering a pilot program for AI weapons detection systems at three schools: Seneca Valley High School, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, and Magruder High School.
7News asked Taylor if school leaders are considering adding Wootton to the pilot program after this shooting.
“Yeah, I think we’ll consider it. I will say we’re underway in those three spaces. Again, it’s a pilot, so there’s a lot to learn. We don’t necessarily know that’s the right solution for us. But that’s why we do a pilot,” Taylor said. “Everything’s on the table.”
If you are a Wootton High School parent with questions about the school district’s response to the shooting, you can email them at askmcps@mspsmd.org.
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