Latest news with #WarrenGrant
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
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
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.
