With the Paris weekend terrorist attacks still very much on the minds of many, the Chestertown community was stunned to learn this morning that Washington College might be facing a possible gun threat.
College officials were notified early Monday by the parents of Washington College student Jacob Marberger that he had left their home in Pennsylvania with a firearm and was considered a missing person by law enforcement authorities. The college’s administration responded to these reports by closing the school on Monday and asking students to shelter-in-place.
At the request of law enforcement students in the Cecil, Dorchester, and Talbot residence halls were moved from their dorms to the Hodson Hall Commons to facilitate a search of their buildings.
The Chestertown Police Department released information that Mr. Marberger is 5’4”, 130 lbs with light skin and curly brown hair. He was last seen driving a 1997 dark green Land Rover with Pennsylvania tag beginning with “JWY”.
As of Monday afternoon, there has been no specific threat to either Washington College or students.
michael kelly says
It is a very sad day when the academic community of Washington College and the citizenry of Chestertown have to concern themselves with this kind of threat —apparently this young man has just enough untamed ego to creat the threat that he has —-he has been a competent thoughtful young person who has gotten hiimself to and through the Freshman year of WaShColl and is now suffering the sophmore slump —-described as the realization that after Freshman year and breaking form homee and successfully completeing Freshman yrear onr must gather onese;f u[ and find the study discipline to being and complete a second year of constant study, examinations and continurd academic growth and development and letting the interpersonal vississitudes of college life get in the way of that road of progress, it spells a difficult path,,,,,,,,,,We can only hope that Mr Jacob can get hold of himself mentally and emotionally and not do anything that might harm others and himself for the future that all have in this life—-a life made so luch and fulfilling by the wonderful people on this Earth who share and feel the values and the happiness that we can know and share even if fo separated from one another,,,,,,,he would do well to turn himself in
Michael Kelly
gerry maynes says
Amen! Lets hope that this kid turns himself in and gets the help that he needs. A life that young should not filled with sadness but with a vision of a great boundless future. What a terrible shame. Gerry
Rebecca Pitre says
With the lock down at the hospital and the closing of Washington college, I am shocked at what seems to be, a lack of concern for our public schools in Chestertown. I called Dr. Couch’s office this morning and asked who’s decision it was, not to have police protection at our public schools, as well, given the current situation. I was not given a clear answer, just told that all of the available manpower was decided to be directed at the college. I then asked who made that decision and was told that Dr. Couch has been in contact with the sheriff’s office. Again, not a clear answer. I will agree, that quite possibly, there is information we aren’t privy too that would lead officials to believe our children are not in harms way however, if I had children going to these schools they would not be attending classes until Washington College , also, resumes their schedule. I am not an alarmist by any means, just using my commonsense.