HARFORD COUNTY, MD – A fatal shooting occurred at Joppatowne High School in Maryland on Friday, when a 16-year-old student, known to law enforcement, shot a classmate in a first-floor boy’s bathroom. The incident occurred during the shooter’s first day at the school, following an altercation with the victim, 15-year-old Warren Curtis Grant. The shooting took place around 12:35 p.m., as reported by Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler.
The school’s security officer and principal did not hear the gunshot, but were alerted by the ensuing commotion. Students moved the injured Grant into the hallway, where school nurses provided immediate care before he was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Unfortunately, Grant later succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter fled the scene, seeking refuge in a nearby apartment complex. However, he was apprehended by the police within minutes of the incident. The school, located about 25 miles north of Baltimore, was evacuated following the shooting.
Sheriff Gahler expressed his sorrow over the incident, noting its occurrence just days after a similar tragedy in Georgia, where a teen gunman killed four people at his school. The Maryland shooter had been involved in over 10 incidents since 2022, either as a victim, witness, or suspect in Harford County Sheriff’s Office investigations.
The type of weapon used in the shooting remains unclear, as the gun was not recovered. While the shooter’s juvenile record is unknown, Gahler confirmed that law enforcement had responded to calls involving him in the past. Due to Maryland’s laws, law enforcement is not allowed to interview the suspect. However, Gahler believes the teen will be charged as an adult without a police interview, given the overwhelming evidence.
The identity of the suspected gunman will be revealed once charges are filed. In response to the shooting, which was initially reported as an active shooter situation, over 100 law enforcement officers from various agencies descended on the high school within 15 minutes. Students were evacuated by 12:45 p.m.
The incident has left the school community in shock. Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson expressed his devastation, pledging to do everything possible to prevent such an incident from happening again. This shooting comes just two days after a similar incident at Apalachee High School in northern Georgia, where a 14-year-old student allegedly killed two students and two teachers, and injured nine others.