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- 16-year-old student shoots classmate on his 1st day of school (abcnews.go.com)
A tragic event unfolded at Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Maryland, on Friday when a 16-year-old student allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old student following an “altercation” in the boys’ bathroom, authorities reported.
The victim, identified as Warren Curtis Grant, was pulled from the bathroom by other students and received immediate medical attention from school nurses and the principal, according to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler during a news conference.
Grant was airlifted to a trauma center but sadly succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital, Sheriff Gahler confirmed in a subsequent briefing.
The 16-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, fled the school and sought refuge in nearby houses. He was swiftly captured within minutes, thanks to the efforts of community members, Gahler noted.
Gahler highlighted that this incident happened on the suspect’s first day at the school, despite it being four days into the academic year.
During the incident, it appears a single shot was fired, but the firearm has yet to be found, Gahler added.
Authorities are still unsure of the cause of the argument that led to the shooting.
The sheriff revealed that the suspect was already known to law enforcement, with over ten incidents involving him either as a victim, witness, or suspect since 2022.
Around 100 police officers rushed to the scene in Joppa, which is roughly 35 miles northeast of Baltimore, Gahler mentioned.
“We are heartbroken to join the list of schools that have experienced such tragedies,” Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson expressed. “We are committed to working with our community to ensure that something like this never happens again.”
Officials confirmed that the school does not have metal detectors.
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