Former Washington College Student Charged with Threat of Mass Violence

Kent County, MD - On the evening of January 20, 2026, the Chestertown Police Department (CPD) received a credible threat of violence against Washington College. A caller contacted the department by telephone and inquired about the consequences of committing a crime of mass violence on campus.

The individual specifically mentioned targeting members of the school's administration and Public Safety Officers.

CPD officers immediately initiated an investigation to identify the caller and determine his location. The Washington College Department of Public Safety was briefed on the situation.

A significant number of uniformed officers responded to the campus to secure the area and increase visibility. College officials issued a "shelter in place" order while law enforcement continued the search.

The investigation identified the caller as Grafton Steele Howard, a 25-year-old resident of Chesapeake City, Maryland. Howard is a former student of Washington College.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office assisted in locating Howard at his residence. He was taken into custody for an emergency mental health evaluation at a local hospital.

Following his release from the hospital, Howard was served with an arrest warrant charging him with multiple counts related to the threat of mass violence. He was also served with an Interim Extreme Risk Protective Order.

This court order prohibits the purchase or possession of firearms and ammunition and requires the surrender of any existing firearms to law enforcement.

Howard appeared before a District Court Commissioner in Elkton, Maryland, and was initially ordered held without bond at the Cecil County Detention Center.

A bail review was later conducted by a District Court Judge in Cecil County District Court. Howard was subsequently released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Sergeant Chris Schwink of the Chestertown Police Department led the investigation. Assisting agencies included the Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Kent County Sheriff's Office, Washington College Department of Public Safety, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police-Centreville, and the Cecil County Sheriff's Office.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.