Tragedy struck Joppatowne High School in Maryland. 15-Year-Old Killed in Maryland School Shooting; 16-Year-Old Arrested
The suspect is in custody and expected to be charged as an adult. Authorities and the community are responding to the heartbreaking incident as investigations continue.
JOPPATOWNE, Md. — The first week of school ended in tragedy at a high school northeast of Baltimore on Friday where a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed by another student, according to local law enforcement.
A 16-year-old suspect is in custody and expected to be charged as an adult.
Two days after the fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, students at Joppatowne High School closed their first week of school with another senseless school shooting that killed one of their classmates.
The incident occurred at 12:36 p.m. in a first-floor restroom at Joppatowne High School, located in the town of Joppatowne, which has a population of slightly over 13,000 people.
The kid was airlifted from the baseball field to a local hospital, where Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler stated that the boy was in severe condition at the time. The kid later died in the hospital.
Victim was identified in Maryland School Shooting
Gahler identified the victim as Waren Curtis Grant, aged 15.
The suspect has yet to be recognized due to his age, but Gahler said that once he is charged as an adult, his identity would be made public.
Gahler said that the 16-year-old suspect was caught within minutes of the shooting owing to “community members.” Gahler did not specify if the community members were other students.
The principal did not hear the gunshot, but he did hear the uproar it created. She and the SRO attended the shooting to see what was going on.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this amazing young man ─ with his friends, with all of our staff members ─ with all of our students,” said Principal Melissa Williams, seemingly disappointed during a second press conference on Friday. “Joppatowne is a loving and strong community that will undoubtedly rally behind our families, support one another, and continue to support our community and all of its families. We are one town, and our name is J-Town.”
After the incident, Gahler stated that the suspect left the bathroom and the school. Other kids pulled Waren out of the bathroom and into the corridor, where he was treated by school nurses and, thereafter, first responders.
Gahler said his deputies were at the school within two minutes of the shooting, and by 15 minutes, more than 100 cops from multiple agencies had arrived. Paramedics responded within minutes of the incident.
Gahler said they currently believe that one shot was fired.
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The sheriff’s office has spoken with the State Attorney’s Office, and they feel there is enough evidence to prosecute the 16-year-old. The sheriff stated that they have not yet been able to question the suspect due to Maryland laws.
“A tragic day four days into the school year,” Gahler said. “We’re all familiar with the horrible shooting that took four lives in Georgia just a couple days ago, and here we stand in Harford County with a school shooting.”
Dr. Sean W. Bulson, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, joined Sheriff Gahler at the Friday press conferences.
“I pulled up to the school to see just a sea of lights and people doing their jobs on behalf of our students in this community,” Bulson said, thanking first responders for their quick action.
Bulson said their hearts are broken for the family of the student who was killed.
Read More: 15-Year-Old Killed in Maryland School Shooting; 16-Year-Old Arrested
“When our staff and students return to the school, we will have a great deal of support available for them,” he said . Bulson noted that plans for Monday’s school day have not yet been finalized, but parents may expect a decision by Saturday.
Parents and students were reunited at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, and Bulson assured the media that the process went successfully. Bulson thanked the church for its support as a community partner.
Sheriff Gahler said the gun has not been recovered.