Murder Of Joppatowne Student Left A 'Crushing Emotional Toll,' Family Member Says

JOPPATOWNE, MD — Jaylen Rushawn Prince, the student convicted of murder after he gunned down a classmate Sept. 6, 2024, in a bathroom at Joppatowne High School, has been sentenced to decades in prison.

In May, a jury convicted Prince of first-degree murder in the death of Warren Grant, who was 15 when he died. Police said Prince pulled out a gun from his backpack and shot Grant during a fight over a female student in the school bathroom. Grant was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview where he underwent surgeries, but he died that same day.

Witnesses testified the boys argued before Prince followed Grant into the bathroom to confront him. One witness recorded their confrontation, where Prince was seen as the aggressor who threatened to kill the victim four times.

A witness also watched Prince pull the gun from his backpack, cock the gun and shoot Grant before fleeing.

In her sentencing presentation to the court Tuesday, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey read 10 victim impact statements provided by various Grant family members and friends.

All the statements highlighted the “crushing emotional toll” the murder has had on the family, as well as the “incomprehensible loss” they have suffered, describing Grant as “selfless, loving, kind and loyal.” Through their statements, the victim’s family requested accountability and justice for the loss of Grant’s life.

Healey argued in court that Prince cannot, and may never be, "amenable to treatment." She cited Harford County Public School records of a longstanding history of violence, including dozens of incidents of threats toward teachers, multiple attacks and physical violence towards peers, and continuous verbally abusive behavior.

Healey also introduced 200 pages of records from the Charles H. Hickey School where Prince was held both pending trial and post-trial.

"These records outlined continued assaultive behaviors sometimes requiring physical restraint and often unprovoked. They also noted numerous occasions of threats and verbal abuse toward teachers, counselors and staff continuing even following his guilty conviction in this case," Healey said.

A psychological evaluation conducted by Dr. Kimberly Witczak, a psychologist with the Department of Mental Health, for sentencing purposes found Prince to be an “extremely high risk for future violence.”

Healey argued that Prince continues to be "a serious risk to public safety and stated that the message must be swift and certain” to deter future gun violence in schools.

Because Prince was 16 years old at the time of Grant's death, the state could not seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, so Healey requested a total sentence of life suspending all but 100 years to serve.

Presiding Judge Keven Mahoney said the effects of Warren's death are “profound and long-lasting.” He also said that "children should be able to go to school and come home at the end of the day without fear of gun violence and that this should not be an acceptable reality.”

The judge said Prince knowingly brought a loaded firearm to school with an intent to use it when he faced no threat from Grant.

Prince was sentenced to life plus 20 years, suspending all but 80 years to serve, with five years of supervised probation upon his release. Prince will not be eligible for his first parole review until at least half of his sentence is served.

“No sentence will ever bring Warren back to his loved ones or make up for the fact that his life was cut short in the most tragic and senseless way. However, today we did our best to seek justice for both him and his family. Through this sentence, we have ensured that Jaylen Prince will no longer be a threat to our community. It is my hope that today will help close the hardest chapter of Warren family’s lives and send the message that gun violence will not be tolerated in our schools, or in our community at all for that matter," Healey said after the sentencing.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler said after the sentencing that Grant's death "underscores the serious consequences of violence within our schools."

"When such incidents occur, they not only affect the individuals directly involved, but also disrupt the sense of safety and stability that schools are meant to provide. While the court has delivered its judgment for Jaylen Prince, sentencing him to 80 years in prison, many are left asking what justice truly means in situations like this. Legal accountability is one part of the response, but it must be accompanied by continued efforts to prevent future tragedies while working to support affected families, and reinforce the safety of our educational environments," Gahler said.

Related:

• Teen Convicted Of Murder In MD High School Bathroom Shooting
• Teen Charged With Murder After Joppatowne High School Shooting
• 'I Am Going To Kill You' Accused MD School Shooter Says On Video
• Schools Closed As Community Mourns Student's Fatal Shooting, Counseling Available
• Teen School Shooting Suspect Denied Bail, Return To School Delayed At Joppatowne High