Blair junior wounded by accidental shot

Around 8 p.m. Saturday, junior Dimitrios Philliou was shot by an acquaintance in the basement of a Silver Spring residence. He was transported with life-threatening injuries to a local trauma center, where he remains in critical condition awaiting a second surgery, according to Lieutenant Robert McCullagh of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).

Philliou, 16, was with three other 16-year-old Blazers and one 17-year-old. The 17-year-old was holding the gun and it discharged, striking Philliou in his chest. McCullagh called the shooting an "accident," but said criminal charges may still ensue.

The shooting marked the second incident of gun violence involving Blair students in two weeks, after the shooting death of 14-year-old Tai Lam on Nov. 1. "It's an unusual frequency of events," McCullagh said. "There's no reason 16- or 17-year-olds should be handling handguns...It's unfortunate that nobody seems to be learning from it."

Nov. 17 update: Following two surgeries, Philliou is doing well and expected to recover, according to members of the Blair administration in close contact with the Philliou family.