Jaylen Prince Sentenced to 80 Years for Fatally Shooting Classmate Warren Grant at Joppatowne High School

A Maryland teenager has been sentenced to decades behind bars for the fatal shooting of his classmate inside Joppatowne High School last year.

Jaylen Prince, 17, was handed a life sentence plus 20 additional years on October 14, with all but 80 years suspended, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. Due to state law restrictions on sentencing minors, Prince will not be eligible for parole until serving at least half of his sentence.

Shooting at Joppatowne High School

Prince, who was 16 at the time of the incident in September 2024, was convicted in May of first-degree murder and related charges in connection with the death of Warren Grant. Prosecutors revealed that Prince brought a loaded ghost gun to school in his backpack, intending to use it before shooting Grant in a bathroom.

During the trial, Prince claimed the shooting was accidental, occurring out of fear during an argument about a girl. However, prosecutors presented evidence, including a video, showing Prince threatening Grant four times and witnesses reporting seeing him remove the gun from his backpack and fire. Prince then reportedly fled the scene, and the firearm was never recovered.

Jaylen Prince Sentenced to 80 Years for Fatally Shooting Classmate Warren Grant at Joppatowne High School

History of Violence

Court records indicated that Prince had a long history of violent behavior in school, including numerous threats toward teachers, multiple attacks on peers, and ongoing verbally abusive conduct. Harford County Public Schools reported that some threats continued even after his conviction.

A psychologist assessing Prince prior to sentencing described him as “an extremely high risk for future violence.”

Statement From State’s Attorney

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey commented, “No sentence will ever bring Warren back to his loved ones or make up for the fact that his life was cut short in the most tragic and senseless way.”

Healey added, “It is my hope that today will help close the hardest chapter of Warren family’s lives and send the message that gun violence will not be tolerated in our schools or community.”