Police have had several encounters with suspected school shooter, says sheriff

16-year-old Jaylen Prince has been identified as the gunman in Friday's fatal shooting at Joppatowne High School.

Harford County Sheriff's officials tracked him down minutes after he allegedly shot 15-year-old Warren Grant at school.

Immediately after his arrest, part of the investigation was closed under the Maryland Child Interrogation Protection Act, according to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler.

“This case is a tragic example. Thousands of people are affected, the school, the parents and the people who will go to school in the future want to know the answers to these questions. And once again we are forbidden to speak to a 16-year-old,” said Gahler.

According to Sheriff Gahler, Prince has been known to law enforcement since 2022.

“Ten times, at least ten times, our office has interacted with the suspect in this case; either as a victim, as a witness or as a suspect. And because of the laws, we cannot speak to him,” Gahler said.

Due to current juvenile criminal law, it is not known in what form Prince came into contact with law enforcement authorities.

“It's frustrating. I have to ask this question, and I'm sure other citizens will ask this question too. If we could have intervened earlier in this young man's life and perhaps involved the justice system, he might not be facing murder charges,” Gahler said.