BALTIMORE–A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with 15-year-old boy fatally shot at Joppatowne High School on Friday.
The teen is charged as an adult with murder, first and second degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/violent crime.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said at a news conference Friday that the 16-year-old student allegedly shot a 15-year-old boy during a fight in a men’s restroom just after 12:30 p.m.
The victim, 15-year-old Warren Grant, was found with gunshot wounds and was treated by school nurses, staff and students. He was then flown by helicopter to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
After the shooting, the 16-year-old fled the school and was found in a nearby neighborhood after residents called 911 to report a suspicious person trying to break into a home. The suspect was taken into custody without incident around 12:52 p.m.
He is currently being held at the Harford County Detention Center awaiting his first appearance before a court officer.
The sheriff’s office said the events leading up to the shooting and the relationship between the victim and the suspect remain under investigation.
“I graduated from this high school, I never thought something like this could happen. It’s just disgusting. This kind of thing never happens here in Joppatowne,” said neighbor Matthew Wiggins. “Why did you have to bring a gun into this situation? Why do you even bring it to school? School is supposed to be about safety, learning, discipline… it breaks my heart.”
According to the Harford County Sheriff, the The suspect had 10 previous contacts with the police over the past two years.
In the statement, the department said it believes no other suspects are involved and there is no ongoing threat to the community or school.
Harford County Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson said counseling would be offered to students, but he did not know when classes would resume.
