Update: 15-year-old student dies in Joppatowne High School shooting, 16-year-old suspect in custody
(Update: 09/07/2024, 1:08 pm) Shooting Suspect Identified: Just now, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office provided an update into yesterday’s fatal shooting at Joppatowne High School.
Following the shooting, around 12:50 p.m., citizens in the area contacted the Emergency Operations Center reporting a suspicious subject attempting to break into a house. Deputies in the area, searching for the suspect, immediately responded and took the individual, Jaylen Rushawn Prince, 16, of Edgewood, into custody at 12:52 p.m. Prince is a student at Joppatowne High School. The arrest was made without incident.
The Sheriff’s Office went on to report that Prince has since been charged as an adult with Murder, first and second-degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony/crime of violence. He is currently being held in the Harford County Detention Center. He is awaiting his initial appearance before a judicial officer.
The events leading up to the incident and the relationship between the victim and the suspect remains under investigation. However, information indicates Mr. Grant and Mr. Prince were known to each other prior to the shooting. As of this writing, it is not believed that there are any outstanding suspects or that there is an on-going threat to the community or Joppatowne High School.
While an arrest has been made, Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation. No further information is being released at this time.
Ace News Today’s report from earlier today appears below in its original entirety.
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On Friday, December 6, shortly after 12:30 p.m., what started out as a fight that went down between two teen students at Joppatowne High School in Joppatowne, Maryland, turned deadly with one 16-year-old student pulling a gun on his 15-year-old adversary. The fatal shot was fired in one of the school’s bathrooms. Warren Curtis Grant, 15, from Edgewood, was the student that died in this latest round of school violence, according to The Associated Press.
The shooter fled the scene but was apprehended shortly afterwards. On their Facebook page, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced that this was not an active shooter scenario, but an isolated incident that they were investigating. “Avoid the area. The reunification center for parents to pick up their students is Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church,” they said.
Following the shooting, other students helped carry their 15-year-old classmate from the bathroom where he was then cared for by school nurses and the principal. The teen was airlifted to a trauma center, but tragically died soon after at the hospital, according to a statement from Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler, and as reported by ABC News.
Reportedly, only one shot was fired in the fatal shooting incident, the sheriff said, noting that the gun has not yet been recovered. Authorities don’t know – or are not saying – what the initial argument was between the two students.
Although school had been in session for several days this fall, the day of the shooting was the alleged shooter’s first day of attendance at Joppatowne High School. The 16-year-old suspect still has not been identified, but the Sheriff stated that he was previously known to local law enforcement:
“I know that he’s not unknown to us, but I don’t know whether that means he has a juvenile record. We have calls for service that have involved him in the past, I do know that.” The sheriff said there have been 10 instances in which the 16-year-old boy in this shooting has been the victim, witness or suspect in investigations. ~ WBAL-TV, Baltimore
Reportedly, the emergency response to Joppatowne High School was swift and massive.
“Within 15 minutes more than 100 police officers were here from all of our partner agencies,” Gahler said. A school resource officer was inside the school at the time but did not hear the gunshot, according to Gahler. That officer, along with the principal and school nurse quickly responded to the shooting scene.
The school was evacuated after the incident. ~ CBS News
Also yesterday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore released the following statement regarding the shooting:
“The First Lady and I are heartbroken for the Joppatowne community as we grieve the loss of a life cut short. Maryland prays for the young victim of this senseless act, Warren Curtis Grant – as well as his family, friends, teachers, mentors, and loved ones.
We are thankful to local authorities, the Maryland State Police, first responders, school staff, and many other leaders for their swift response. I’ve been in touch with Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, and our administration stands ready to lend full support to authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation into this matter.
Every Marylander deserves to feel safe at school. Our administration will continue to support families, grassroots leaders, local law enforcement, and all of our partners as we work together to keep our schools, our communities, and our entire state safe. May we always remember our solemn obligation to build a better future for our children.”
There were no metal detectors at the school. For more on yesterday’s deadly shooting at Joppatowne High School, see the video below.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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