JOPPATOWNE, Md. — The first week of school ended in tragedy at a high school northeast of Baltimore on Friday where a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed by another student, according to local law enforcement.
A 16-year-old suspect is in custody and expected to be charged as an adult.
Two days after the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, students at Joppatowne High School ended their first week of the school year with one of their classmates killed in another senseless school shooting.
The shooting happened at 12:36 p.m. inside a first-floor bathroom at Joppatowne High School, which is in the town of Joppatowne that has a population just over 13,000 people.
The victim was air-lifted from the baseball field to an area hospital where Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said the boy was in serious condition at that time. The boy later died at the hospital.
Gahler identified the victim as Waren Curtis Grant, 15.
The suspect has not yet been identified due to his age, but Gahler said once they charge him as an adult, they will publicly release his name.
Gahler said the 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody within minutes of the shooting thanks to "community members." Gahler did not say whether or not those community members were other students.
The school's principal did not hear the gunshot but heard the commotion it caused. She and the SRO went toward the shooting to see what was happening.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this amazing young man ─ with his friends, with all of our staff members ─ with all of our students," said Principal Melissa Williams, who was visibly shaken during a second news conference Friday. "Joppatowne is a loving and strong community who will without a doubt rally among our families, support one another, and continue to support our community and all of our families. We are one town, and we are J-Town."
After the shooting, Gahler said the suspect left the bathroom and the school. Other students at the school helped Waren out of the bathroom into the hallway to get him quicker aid where he was attended to by school nurses and eventually first responders.
Gahler said his deputies arrived at the school within two minutes of the shooting, and within 15 minutes, more than 100 officers were at the school from various agencies. Paramedics also arrived within minutes of the shooting.
Right now, Gahler said they believe only one shot was fired.
The sheriff's office has consulted with the State Attorney's Office, and they believe they have enough evidence to charge the 16-year-old. They have not been able to interview the suspect yet due to Maryland law, the sheriff said.
"A tragic day four days into the school year," Gahler said. "We're all familiar with the horrible shooting that took four lives in Georgia just a couple days ago, and here we stand in Harford County with a school shooting."
Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools Dr. Sean W. Bulson joined Sheriff Gahler at Friday's news conferences.
"I pulled up to the school to see just a sea of lights and people doing their jobs on behalf of our students in this community," Bulson said as he thanked first responders for their quick action.
Bulson said their hearts are breaking for the family of the student who was killed.
"When our staff and students return to the school, we will have a great deal of support available for them," he said. Bulson added that plans for school on Monday have not yet been decided but that parents can expect a decision no later than Saturday.
Parents and students were reunited at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, and Bulson told reporters that the process went smoothly. Bulson added his thanks to the church for helping out as a partner in the community.
Sheriff Gahler said the weapon has not been recovered.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore released a statement Friday night regarding the shooting, saying in part "Maryland prays for the young victim of this senseless act."
>Watch Friday's first full news conference on the shooting below: