Shooting at school in Maryland: Boy killed, suspect in custody

JOPPATOWNE, Maryland – The first week of school ended in tragedy Friday at a high school northeast of Baltimore when a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed by another student, local police said.

A 16-year-old suspect is in custody and is to be charged as an adult.

Two days after the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, the first week of school for students at Joppatowne High School ended with the death of one of their classmates in another senseless shooting.

The shooting occurred at 12:36 p.m. in a first-floor restroom at Joppatowne High School in the city of Joppatowne, which has a population of just over 13,000.

The victim was flown by helicopter from the baseball field to a nearby hospital. According to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler, the boy was in serious condition at the time. The boy later died at the hospital.

Gahler identified the victim as 15-year-old Warren Curtis Grant.

Because of his age, the suspect's identity has not yet been determined, but Gahler said his name will be released publicly once he is charged as an adult.

Gahler said the 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody minutes after the shooting thanks to “community members.” Gahler did not reveal whether those community members were other students.

The principal didn't hear the gunshot, but heard the commotion it caused. She and the SRO went in the direction of 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 – with all of our students,” Principal Melissa Williams, who was visibly shaken, said during a second press conference Friday. “Joppatowne is a loving and strong community that will no doubt hold our families together, support each other and continue to support our community and all of our families. We are one town and we are J-Town.”

After the shooting, the suspect left the restroom and the school, according to Gahler. Other students at the school helped Waren out of the restroom and into the hallway to get him help more quickly, where he was cared for by school nurses and eventually first responders.

Gahler said his officers arrived at the school within two minutes of the shooting and more than 100 officers from various agencies arrived within 15 minutes. Paramedics also arrived within minutes of the shooting.

It is currently assumed that only one shot was fired, said Gahler.

The sheriff's office has consulted with prosecutors and believes there is enough evidence to charge the 16-year-old. Due to Maryland law, they have not yet been able to interview the suspect, the sheriff said.

“A tragic day, four days after school started,” Gahler said. “We all know about the horrific shooting that left four people dead in Georgia a few days ago, and now we're here in Harford County with a school shooting.”

Dr. Sean W. Bulson, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, joined Sheriff Gahler in Friday's press conferences.

“When I arrived at the school, all I saw was a sea of ​​lights and people doing their jobs for our students in this community,” Bulson said, thanking first responders for their quick response.

Bulson said her heart breaks for the family of the slain student.

“When our staff and students return to school, we will be able to offer them a lot of support,” he said. Bulson added that plans for school operations had not been decided on Monday, but parents could expect a decision by Saturday at the latest.

Parents and students were reunited at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, and Bulson told reporters the process went smoothly. Bulson also thanked the church for helping as a community partner.

Sheriff Gahler said the gun was not found.

>Watch Friday's first full press conference on the shooting below: