Police say a 16-year-old Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student has been charged with second-degree assault for allegedly punching another student in a school stairwell.

Police responded to the school at 8:11 a.m. Feb 6, according to Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Officer Rebecca Innocenti.

The boy struck a 15-year-old victim in the chest with his fist, Innocenti said. The teens had been having a conversation prior to the assault, but it's not clear what they were discussing, Innocenti said.

The 16-year-old suspect was charged, but wasn't arrested at school, Innocenti said.