A Maryland high school student fatally shot a 15-year-old classmate on Friday, just two days after four people were killed in a Georgia school shooting.
The 16-year-old attacker fired a single shot at the younger child, Warren Curtis Grant, in a men’s restroom at Joppatowne High School on Friday afternoon, according to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler at a news conference. Warren was pulled from the bathroom by other students shortly after the shooting, and he was treated by the principal and school nurses.
Warren died later that day at a trauma clinic, Gahler told reporters.
Police detained the young suspect, whose identity has not been revealed since he has not yet been charged. According to Gahler, officers have yet to recover the firearm used in the incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this amazing young man, his friends, all of our staff members, and all of our students,” said Joppatowne High School principal Melissa Williams to reporters. “Joppatowne is a loving and strong community who will, without a doubt, rally among our families.”
Police know the suspect from ten previous incidents
According to Gahler, police were already familiar with the 16-year-old shooter, who had been the “victim, witness, or suspect” in ten incidents since 2022.
“He’s a 16-year-old student at our school. “This was his first day, even though it was four days into the school year,” Gahler explained.
According to Gahler, officers were not permitted to speak with the suspect due to the state’s “criminal-friendly legislature”. He also stated that officials have enough “overwhelming evidence” against the suspect to pursue charges without interrogating him. He stated that the suspect is expected to be officially charged by early Saturday.
Two pupils and two teachers were slain in the Georgia shooting
The Maryland shooting occurred two days after a shooter opened fire on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia. The attackers killed two teachers and two students.
Authorities stated the 14-year-old child was armed with “an AR-platform style weapon” when he carried out the fatal shooting. He is charged with four counts of felony murder, and “additional charges are expected,” according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The teenager’s father has also been charged.
“We’re all familiar with the horrible shooting that took four lives in Georgia just a couple of days ago, and here we stand in Harford County with a school shooting,” Gahler told reporters.
