Student Fatally Shot At Joppatowne HS Identified, Teen Suspect Faces Adult Charges

Updated at 5:23 p.m. Friday

JOPPATOWNE, MD — A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot by a fellow student in a first floor restroom at Joppatowne High School Friday. The student died later that afternoon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Harford County authorities said.

Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said the student who died was Warren Curtis Grant, 15, of Edgewood.

"It's a tragic day, four days into the school year," Gahler said at a news conference.

At the news conference, Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson credited the quick actions of a school nurse and principal in tending to the wounded student, which "hopefully gave him a good chance to survive this incident." However, the student died later Friday afternoon, officials announced.

"It is with great sadness that we share that the victim of the shooting did not survive ... Again, we ask you to join us in keeping Warren’s family, friends and the students and staff at JOHS in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. We will have additional supports in place for students as we process this tragedy as a school community," the school district posted on its website.

Officials said the suspect and the victim fought in the bathroom right before the shooting. The victim was shot once, Gahler said, but officers have not found the weapon. A school resource officer was in the building when the shot was fired, and a second officer was on the scene within two minutes. More than 100 first responders had arrived within 15 minutes.

The school’s principal and resource officer heard a commotion in the first floor men’s bathroom, but did not hear the gunshot, Gahler said. The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. in a first-floor men's restroom after classes had dismissed during passing time, so the hallways were full of students, Bulson said.

The suspect fled the school and was arrested at a nearby home after numerous calls to 911 reported him banging on windows and doors trying to enter houses, Gahler said. It was noted that the day of the shooting was the suspected shooter's first day at that school despite school having started earlier in the week.

Gov. Wes Moore called the shooting at Joppatowne High School a senseless act, and said the state is praying for Grant's family, friends, teachers, mentors and loved ones.

"We are thankful to local authorities, the Maryland State Police, first responders, school staff, and many other leaders for their swift response. I’ve been in touch with Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, and our administration stands ready to lend full support to authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation into this matter," Moore said.

"Every Marylander deserves to feel safe at school. Our administration will continue to support families, grassroots leaders, local law enforcement, and all of our partners as we work together to keep our schools, our communities, and our entire state safe. May we always remember our solemn obligation to build a better future for our children," said the governor.

Students were reunited with family members at a nearby church.

"Our hearts are breaking for this victim and the victim's family. This should not be happening in our schools," Bulson said. "We are just devastated to be a part of this awful group of schools to have experienced things like this, and we're going to do everything we can to make sure this absolutely never happens again."

There was an incident involving students at the high school that was reported to the sheriff's office Thursday, but Gahler said he couldn't confirm if it was related to Friday's shooting.

The 16-year-old suspect will be charged as an adult, Gahler said, and has been involved in other incidents that required intervention by the sheriff's office. Gahler said at the news conference that while current legislation prevents the Harford County Sheriff's Office from questioning the suspect, the state's attorney has confirmed the suspect will be charged in the shooting.

"Sadly, this isn't our first horrible event in the county … we are very thankful this wasn't an active shooter incident, but it showed our response was great," the sheriff said. "We pray we never have to have to test that system."

Bulson said counselors will be available for students in the shooting aftermath.

"We want to make sure our students are back with their families. Once that's done, we'll work on the next steps of reopening the school and returning to business as usual," Bulson said.

Gahler added that parents need to know what their children are doing and where they are.

"We are all asking why did a 16-year-old have a gun? How did he get his hands on this gun?" Gahler said.

Joppatowne High School has the capacity for 1,056 students, and there are currently 985 enrolled, officials shared.