Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Maryland Teen Convicted in Joppatowne High School Killing Faces Sentencing Today

A May jury found Jaylen Prince guilty after an eight-day trial featuring video evidence.

Overview

  • Prince was convicted of first-degree murder for the Sept. 6, 2024 shooting of 15-year-old Warren Grant inside a Joppatowne High School bathroom.
  • Police said he pulled a gun from his backpack during a fight and shot Grant, then left the scene.
  • Prosecutors presented video and witness testimony portraying Prince as the aggressor who issued threats, cocked the weapon, fired, and discarded the gun, which was never recovered.
  • Prince testified that he did not intend to kill Grant, claiming the gun went off accidentally after he displayed it to scare others and citing fears stemming from prior losses to gun violence.
  • An expert told jurors that photos of the firearm on Prince's phone matched bullets recovered from Grant, and the jury reached its verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation.