A 16-year-old student allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old boy during an “altercation” in the boys’ bathroom at Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Maryland, on Friday, authorities said.
The 15-year-old, Warren Curtis Grant, was removed from the bathroom by other students and then attended to by school nurses and the principal, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said at a news conference.
The teen was airlifted to a trauma center, the sheriff said. He died soon after at the hospital, Gahler announced at a second news conference.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept, 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
WJLA
The 16-year-old suspect, who has not been named, left the school and fled to nearby houses, the sheriff said. He was apprehended “within minutes” thanks to community members, Gahler said.
The shooting unfolded on the suspect’s first day at the school, though it’s now four days into the school year, Gahler said.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept, 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
WJLA
It appears one shot was fired in the incident, the sheriff said, noting that the gun has not been recovered.
Authorities don’t know what the apparent argument was about, the sheriff said.
The suspect is known to law enforcement and police have previously responded to calls for service involving the teen, authorities said.
“We’ve had more than 10 incidents since 2022 where this suspect was either the victim, witness or suspect” in an incident handled by the sheriff’s office, Gahler said.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting inside Joppatowne High School, Sept, 6, in Joppatowne, Md.
WJLA
More than 100 police officers responded to the scene in Joppa, about 35 miles northeast of Baltimore, Gahler said.
“We’re just devastated to be a part of this awful group of schools that have experienced things like this,” Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson said. “And we’re going to do everything we can, working with this community, to make sure this absolutely never happens again.”
The school does not have metal detectors, officials said.
On Tuesday, tragedy struck a high school in Maryland as a 16-year-old student was taken into custody after a fatal shooting of a 15-year-old student in a school bathroom. The incident has left the community in shock and mourning as they try to make sense of this senseless act of violence.
According to authorities, the shooting occurred at around 8:00 am at the high school, located in the suburbs of Maryland. The 15-year-old victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. The suspect, a 16-year-old student at the same school, was apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the incident and is currently in custody.
The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and investigators are working diligently to piece together what led to this tragic event. School officials have expressed their condolences to the victim’s family and are providing support to students and staff who have been affected by the incident.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of gun violence in schools across the country. It highlights the urgent need for stricter gun control measures and increased mental health resources to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community has come together to mourn the loss of the young victim and support one another during this difficult time. Counseling services have been made available to students and staff, and additional security measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, it is important for parents, teachers, and community members to have open and honest conversations with young people about the impact of gun violence and the importance of conflict resolution without resorting to violence.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends during this heartbreaking time. May we come together as a community to support one another and work towards creating a safer and more peaceful future for our children.
