Maryland rocked by twin scares: Bomb threats against Democrat leaders, shooting at Naval Academy

Brooke Conrad, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 11, 2025

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One person was injured in a shooting at the U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday, according to a state official with knowledge of the incident, and Democratic leaders of Maryland’s House and Senate reported bomb threats against them.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson both said on X on Thursday afternoon that they had received bomb threats. The U.S. Naval Academy went on lockdown the same day, with Naval Support Activity Annapolis investigating, according to a Facebook post from The City of Annapolis Thursday evening.

“Earlier today, I received a bomb threat at my home in Baltimore County. Law enforcement responded quickly and determined that it was a non-credible bomb threat,” wrote House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones on X at 4:43 p.m.

“Earlier today, the Baltimore Police Department received a bomb threat involving our family home,” Senate President Bill Ferguson posted on X at 4:40 p.m. “Thankfully, everyone is safe and secure. I want to thank the Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland State Troopers for their swift response and courageous professionalism.”

Asked about the threat against Ferguson, Baltimore City police confirmed they responded to a bomb threat and found it to be unfounded. Baltimore County Police did not provide information about the threat against Jones.

The threats came a day after the assassination of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah, at a speaking event on a college campus.

“After what we saw yesterday in Utah, and after what we’ve seen throughout our country in places like Minnesota over the past several months, it is clear that tragic political violence is on the rise,” Ferguson said in his post.

“The fear and violence of our modern political landscape is a poison whose inevitable outcome is the destruction of us all,” he continued. “We cannot continue to live in a world where we ignore the humanity of those who have different ideologies and principles than us. We must reject the culture of hate and violence that seeks power from fear and division.”

Jones wrote, “I want to thank all law enforcement involved for their immediate and professional response. Their vigilance and dedication are deeply appreciated — not only by me — but by the entire community.”

She continued, “While such threats are violating, we can’t let it distract us from the important work that we do. Tonight, I will take time to care for my family and team and look forward to getting back to work tomorrow.”

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, a Republican, described the threats on the General Assembly leaders as “despicable.”

“No one disagrees more strenuously with some of the policies and the maneuvers that come out of the Democratic party in Annapolis during our legislative sessions,” Buckel told The Baltimore Sun, but added that “violence or threats of violence for political ends — it has to change. It has to be condemned with the strongest terms possible.”

Buckel said he knows Jones and Ferguson personally and that they are “good people.”

“We have to stand up for them regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.

Buckel noted other recent acts or threats of violence — Kirk’s assassination, the killing of a high-ranking Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband (another Democratic state lawmaker and his wife were injured), an arson attack at Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence and two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump.

“One of the most horrible things is it discourages good people from wanting to participate … in our democracy,” Buckel said, because they’re “afraid it attracts people who are unhinged.”

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey wrote in a message to The Sun that the bomb threats against Maryland’s legislative leaders “are deeply disturbing and absolutely unacceptable.”

“Public service requires debate, disagreement, and sometimes sharp differences of opinion — but it must never cross into intimidation or violence,” he said. “These actions do not advance dialogue; they endanger lives and undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”

Ferguson and Jones did not respond to requests for comment for more details about the threats they received.

A bomb threat also was made in Washington, D.C., on Thursday against the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The threat was determined to be not credible.

Local news outlets in New Mexico also reported a bomb threat against the state’s Democratic Senate leader.

In addition, multiple historically Black colleges and universities went under lockdown across the country on Thursday, with the FBI saying it was “aware of hoax threat calls.”

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