Parents Circulate Petition For Metal Detectors, Clear Backpacks At HCPS Buildings

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A group of parents is circulating a petition calling for metal detectors to be installed at every entrance of every school within Harford County Public Schools and for all students to use clear backpacks only.

The petition was launched after 15-year-old Warren Grant was fatally shot in a school bathroom at Joppatowne High by a classmate. Harford County deputies arrested 16-year-old Jaylen Prince shortly after they say he killed Grant in a first floor school bathroom during a fight between the two that broke out Friday, Sept. 6. It was Prince's first day at the school even though school had started earlier that week.

"This horrific incident is a stark reminder that our schools are no longer the safe havens they should be. Our community can no longer afford to wait for the next tragedy to take action. We, the parents, students, teachers, and concerned citizens of Harford County, are coming together to demand immediate and proactive measures to ensure the safety of every child who walks through our school doors. No parent should have to fear for their child’s life while they are in school," wrote Marcus Custer who organized the petition.

Custer outlined the following measures in the petition:

1. Metal detectors at every entrance: These are critical for detecting and preventing weapons from entering our schools.
2. Mandatory clear backpacks for all students: This will allow for better visibility and easier identification of dangerous items, significantly reducing the risk of violence.

Custer explained the need for metal detectors and clear backpacks on the website where the petition can be found:

• Preventing Tragedies: Metal detectors provide an effective deterrent against weapons being brought onto school property. When used properly, they are a vital part of creating a safer learning environment for all students.
• Promoting transparency: Clear backpacks help ensure that harmful objects are not concealed and brought into schools unnoticed. They offer a simple, yet highly effective, layer of protection.
• Peace of mind: These measures will help create a school environment where students can focus on their education without the constant fear of violence.

"The safety and security of our children should be the number one priority of the Harford County Public School System. Metal detectors and clear backpacks will help to prevent tragedies like the one we witnessed ... These measures are commonsense solutions that will protect our kids, teachers and staff, and give parents peace of mind," Custer wrote on the petition.

Parents also are pushing to get more information available to the public about the criminal records of students attending public schools, according to The Baltimore Sun. However, Harford County Public Schools are not legally allowed to inform parents about charges against students, and in some cases, state law prohibits police from telling school officials about offenses committed by students who attend their schools, The Baltimore Sun reported.

WJZ reported that a group of Grant's friends recently got tattoos on their wrists and arms to honor their pal.

"He will forever be my best friend and I just know I'm going to make him proud," one friend said.

"I loved him so much," another teen added. "He was so sweet."

Cy'ahana Strand, who told WBAL that she was Grant's girlfriend, was with him in the hallway immediately following the shooting.

"I just seen them carrying him and they sat him on the floor," Strand said. "I did everything I could. I did CPR. I put pressure on his wound. I made sure he didn't talk. I held him down when he tried to fight it. I was there for him as much as I could be."

Related:

• Extra Police Present As Kids Return To Joppatowne HS, Bags Not Allowed
• National Foundation Hosts GoFundMe For 15-Year-Old Joppatowne High School Shooting Victim
• Teen Charged With Murder After Joppatowne High School Shooting
• Student Fatally Shot At Joppatowne HS Identified, Teen Suspect Faces Adult Charges
• Teen School Shooting Suspect Denied Bail, Return To School Delayed At Joppatowne High
• Schools Closed As Community Mourns Student's Fatal Shooting, Counseling Available