Latest news with #JaylenPrince
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Jury deliberations underway in trial for Jaylen Prince, teen accused in deadly Maryland high school shooting
The jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon in the trial for a teen accused of shooting and killing a classmate inside a Maryland high school. Jaylen Prince, 16, is facing charges as an adult for the shooting death of 15-year-old Warren Grant on Sept. 6, 2024, inside a Joppatowne High School bathroom. Police said Prince pulled out a gun from his backpack and shot Grant during a fight. Jaylen Prince takes the stand in his defense The trial lasted seven days, with testimony from classmates, law enforcement, and Prince's mother. On Wednesday, May 28, Prince took the stand in his defense. Prince explained to the jury that he did not mean to kill Grant. The argument from the defense was based on intent. He testified that Grant was the aggressor. Prince said that Grant came from behind and tried to start a fight over his girlfriend. Prince told the court that he said to Grant, "My hand is broke. I ain't fighting nobody," referring to an injury that required emergency surgery months before the shooting. He then told Grant, "If you touch me, I will kill you," before he pulled a gun from his backpack to scare his classmates off. Prince told the jury that Grant shook him, and the gun fired. "I did not fire the gun. It accidentally went off," Prince said during his testimony. Prince said he purchased the gun to protect himself because he "was afraid of a lot of places," after losing at least five friends to gun violence. Prince's mother testifies Rykiech Prince, Prince's mother, took the stand on May 27, claiming that her son had a limited range of motion in his right index finger due to the injury that required surgery. She told the court that she always knew her children's whereabouts and often searched their rooms. During a fiery exchange with Harford County State's Attorney Allison Healey, Rykiech Prince was asked how she missed the ammunition under her son's mattress and why he missed so many days of school. Rykiech Prince said the missed days were due to her son's hand injury and several suspensions. She also recalled how Prince went to school on the day of the shooting to fix his computer so he could attend an online school. Healey said the school was not made aware of the plans.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Teen accused in Maryland high school shooting testifies in his own defense before closing arguments
A teen accused of shooting and killing a classmate inside a Maryland high school testified during his trial Wednesday. Jaylen Prince, 16, is being charged as an adult after allegedly murdering 15-year-old Warrent Grant on Sept. 6, 2024, inside a Joppatowne High School bathroom. Prince took the stand Wednesday during the sixth day of his trial and outlined his version of the events from the day of the shooting. Prince claims gun went off accidentally Prince was the last witness in the case. He took the stand dressed in a black suit and glasses and swore under oath that he did not mean to kill Grant. Earlier in the trial, one of Prince's classmates testified that the shooting stemmed from an argument after Prince spoke to Grant's girlfriend. According to the student, Prince was told to stay away from the girl, which seemed to agitate him. According to Prince's testimony, Grant was the aggressor in the situation. Prince said Grant came up behind him in the bathroom and tried to instigate a fight over his girlfriend. On Wednesday, Prince testified that he told Grant, "My hand is broke. I ain't fighting nobody," referring to an injury that required emergency surgery months before the shooting. He then told Grant, "If you touch me, I will kill you," before he pulled a gun from his backpack to scare his classmates off. Prince told the jury that Grant shook him, and the gun fired. "I did not fire the gun. It accidentally went off," Prince said during his testimony. Prince said he purchased the gun to protect himself as he "was afraid of a lot of places," after losing at least five friends to gun violence. Prosecution questions firearm purchase, search history During cross-examination, State's Attorney Alison Healey, with the defense team, brought up several photos of Prince with a gun. The photos showed Prince with the gun in a car, at work and at his friends' homes. Healy pointed out that they were not scary or threatening places. She also questioned the search history found on Prince's phone about types of guns and bullets. Prince told the jury he searched those topics out of curiosity. He also said he tossed the gun outside of the school after the shooting because he panicked. The gun that was used in the deadly shooting was not recovered. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said officials were hindered by a state law that limits interrogations involving minors. A county detective testified that he heard Prince say "Toss that f******* gun in the water" during a phone call that was captured on a Ring doorbell. Photos of gun match bullets from crime scene A digital forensics expert testified that Prince's cellphone proved that he bought the gun. An analysis of his phone revealed texts in which he and a contact named "Baby Face" arranged the gun purchase on August 12, 2024. Prince then sent the contact $700 through CashApp. Prince's phone also revealed photos of the firearm, a P80 Hornady 9mm gun that matched the type of bullets found after the shooting. The bullets also matched the ones recovered during Grant's autopsy. According to the defense, it does not mean that the bullets came from the pack found in Prince's home. Prince's mother says he had limited range of motion due to injury Prince's mother, Rykiech Prince, took the stand on Tuesday, arguing that her son had a limited range of motion in his right index finger due to the injury that required surgery. She told the jury that she often searched her kids' bedrooms and knew their whereabouts. During a heated exchange with Healy, Rykiech Prince was asked how she missed the ammunition under her son's mattress and why he missed so many days of school. Rykiech Prince said the missed days were due to her son's hand injury and several suspensions. She also recalled how Prince went to school on the day of the shooting to fix his computer so he could attend an online school, something Healy said the school was not made aware of. Closing statements in the Joppatowne High murder trial are expected to begin Thursday, May 29, before jury deliberations
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Prosecution rests in trial for teen accused of deadly Maryland high school shooting
The prosecution rested its case Tuesday in the trial for a 16-year-old accused of shooting a teen in a Maryland high school bathroom. Jaylen Prince, 16, is being charged as an adult for the fatal shooting of Warren Grant at Joppatowne High School on Sept. 6, 2024 Prosecutors wrapped up their arguments on the fifth day of the trial after jurors heard from students, staff, investigators and neighbors. Digital forensics shows proof of gun purchase On Tuesday, digital forensics expert Heather Marsh said Prince's cell phone proved that the teen bought a gun about three weeks before the fatal shooting. According to Marsh, text messages between Prince and a contact known as "Baby Face" show that the two arranged the purchase of a gun on August 12. After that, Prince sent Baby Face $700 on CashApp. In the following days, Prince took several photos of a P80 Hornady 9mm gun. Some of the photos show him holding the gun, Marsh testified. Gun seen in photos match bullets at crime scene Corporal Brad Ghaner testified that the gun in the photos matched the type of bullets that were found at the scene and the ones recovered from under Prince's mattress during a search. Those bullets also matched the type of casings recovered from the scene and the bullets recovered from Grant's body during his autopsy. The defense argued that just because the bullets matched does not mean the bullet came from the pack found in Prince's home. Jurors also learned Tuesday that Prince made a number of searches on his phone about types of guns, gun accessories, and CashApp. Those included searches about hollow point bullets, which Ghaner testified are more dangerous than standard bullets. After the state rested its case, the defense requested that Prince's charges be reduced, arguing that the state did not prove premeditation. The judge ultimately denied the request. Firearm not recovered after school shooting The gun that was used in the shooting at Joppatowne High has still not been recovered by law enforcement. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said a state law about interrogating minors prevented law enforcement from finding the firearm. A county detective who reviewed Ring doorbell video from a neighbor testified about hearing Prince say, "Toss that f******* gun in the water, real s***" as he was on the phone after the shooting. Students testify argument over girl prompted school shooting During Prince's trial, some of his classmates testified that an argument over a girl may have led to the fatal shooting. A student who said he was a close friend of Prince testified about seeing Prince flirting with Grant's girlfriend. He later told Prince that Grant said to stay away from the girl, which he said seemed to agitate him. Another student recalled how Grant told him to take a video when he and Prince began arguing in a bathroom. The video captured Prince saying, "I am going to kill you" before he pulled something from his backpack. Principal testifies about Prince's fights and absences According to Joppatowne High School Principal Melissa Williams, Prince had a history of getting into trouble and had more than 100 absences during the 2023-24 school year. Williams said the day of the shooting was the fourth school day, but it was the first day of the year that Prince showed up to school. She recalled telling Prince to see about getting a locker, as it was against school policy to carry a backpack around all day.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
Witnesses recall seeing alleged suspect in Maryland neighborhood after Joppatowne High School shooting
Testimony during the trial for a teen accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at a Maryland high school suggests he may have passed the murder weapon off to another classmate. Jaylen Prince, 16, is being charged as an adult for shooting and killing Warrent Grant, 15, at Joppatowne High School in September 2024. During the fourth day of his trial, Friday, the jury heard from witnesses who said Prince ran and hid in a nearby apartment complex after the deadly shooting unfolded in a school bathroom. 2024 Joppatowne High School shooting According to classmates who testified in Prince's trial, the shooting at Joppatowne High was prompted by an argument over a girl. A boy who said he was close friends with Prince testified that the suspected shooter was seen flirting with Grant's girlfriend. He recalled how he relayed a message from Grant to Prince telling him to stay away from the girl. Prince seemed agitated after the interaction, the friend told jurors. Later on that day, Prince and Grant got involved in a fight in the men's bathroom, during which Prince threatened to kill Grant before pulling a gun from his backpack and firing, witnesses said. The weapon used in the shooting has not been found. Witnesses recall seeing Prince after Joppatowne High shooting On Friday, Juan Cortez took the stand and recalled a conversation he overheard from a person in the hallway of his apartment on Riley Court, just across the street from Joppatown High. Cortez said he heard the phrases, "Hurt him," "Shot him," and "I messed up my life." "I was alarmed," Cortez told the jury. "That's not something I typically hear passing my front door." He said he called 911 immediately. Sgt. Gregory Dietz with the Harford County Sheriff's Office responded to that call. His body camera footage was played in court, showing the day that deputies spotted Prince hiding under a stairwell. Dietz recalled that Prince only had a phone and a backpack, but a gun was not found. The jury also heard from John McNamara, who lives on Joppa Farm Road, which backs up to the school. His Ring doorbell camera captured Prince walking through his backyard as he was on the phone. Analyzing Ring doorbell video Harford County Sheriff's Detective Patrick Ross testified about analyzing the Ring video captured by McNamara. Ross said he slowed the video, sped it up and adjusted the pitch. He believes Prince said to the person on the other end of the phone, "Toss that f******* gun in the water, real s***." The prosecution also went through other pieces of video evidence with Det. Ross, including a screenshot of what Ross called direct eye contact between Prince and Grant as Grant went to the bathroom minutes before the shooting. The defense argued that when the video is watched in real time, the two teens couldn't have seen each other for more than a split second before Prince went into the bathroom. Video surveillance also showed Prince interacting with another student outside of the school's entrance after the shooting. The student appeared to reach into Prince's backpack. It is unclear if he took anything from the bag. The state's attorney's office said that the student has not been charged with any crimes.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
Principal testifies during trial for teen charged in Maryland high school shooting
Testimony continues in the trial for teen charged in deadly Joppatowne High School shooting Testimony continues in the trial for teen charged in deadly Joppatowne High School shooting Testimony continues in the trial for teen charged in deadly Joppatowne High School shooting The principal of a Maryland high school testified Thursday in the trial for a teen accused of killing his classmate in September 2024. Jaylen Prince, 16, is being charged as an adult for the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Warren Grant in a Joppatowne High School bathroom. On Thursday, during the third day of the trial, the judge warned that any threatening comments by members of the gallery would not be tolerated and could bring criminal charges. Joppatowne High School principal testifies Joppatowne High School Principal Melissa Williams took the stand Thursday and recounted the morning of Sept. 6, 2024. William said she was on a call in her office when she noticed students running from the B Wing of the school. She followed and eventually saw five or six students carrying an unresponsive Grant down the hallway. William told the jury that Prince had a history of getting into trouble at school. He had been involved in multiple fights and had more than 100 absences in the 2023-24 school year, Williams said. According to William, the day of the fatal shooting was the fourth day of the school year, but it was the first day Prince had been at school that year. Williams testified that she saw Prince about an hour before the shooting. She recalled telling Prince to see the assistant principal about getting a locker, since it is against school policy to carry a backpack all day. Photos of Prince's backpack at the scene of the shooting were shown in court. Witnesses said they saw Prince pull something from the bag before a gunshot was fired. Recreating the scene of the Joppatowne High School shooting Det. Michael Wilsynski with the Harford County Sheriff's forensic services unit testified Thursday, sharing how deputies recreated the shooting scene using 3D cameras. Video Forensic Analyst Michael Widenhouse also testified about how he collected and analyzed hours of surveillance video from the school after the shooting. That video was shared in court. It showed Prince skipping down a hallway as a crowd of students tried to leave the school after Grant was shot. Video from outside the school showed Prince interacting with another classmate who appeared to take something from the backpack. It was unclear what the item was. Firearm never recovered in Maryland school shooting The firearm that was used in the Joppatowne High School shooting was never recovered. During the investigation, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said Maryland's Child Interrogation Protection Act hampered the ability of law enforcement to find the gun. Under the state law, minors must consult with an attorney and a parent before they can be interrogated. "...we are not allowed to ask the person who committed that act because of this crazy legislation," he said. During a bail hearing, prosecutors indicated that Prince may know where the missing gun is. Officials reported finding bullets in Prince's room and photos of him holding the firearm on his phone. Classmates say argument over a girl prompted school shooting During the second day of the trial, a close friend of Grant and Prince testified that an argument over a girl led to the deadly shooting in Joppatown High. The student recalled seeing Prince flirting with Grant's girlfriend. The student said he told Prince that Grant said to stay away from the girl, and Prince replied that "Nobody wants her." According to the student, Prince seemed agitated after that interaction. Another student said Grant told him to take a video when he and Prince began arguing in a school bathroom right before the shooting. The video captured Prince saying, "I am going to kill you," before he reached into his backpack and produced a gun.
