Mother of teen accused of deadly Maryland high school shooting testifies during trial
The mother of a teenager accused of murdering a classmate at a Maryland high school took the stand on Tuesday as the defense called its first witnesses.
Jaylen Prince is charged as an adult for the deadly shooting of 15-year-old 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.
The defense is expected to continue calling witnesses Wednesday morning. The judge told the jury he hopes to hand the case to them by Wednesday afternoon.
Suspect's mother and state's attorney have a heated exchange
Testimony from Rykiech Prince gave the jury more insight into Jaylen Prince's home life.
Prince's mother testified that Prince injured his hand at school in April of 2024, which required emergency surgery. She said Jaylen has a limited range of motion in his right index finger.
Rykiech Prince told the jury she is always aware of her children's whereabouts and that she regularly searches their bedrooms.
However, cross-examination was a bit heated with State's Attorney Alison Healey asking Prince's mother how she missed the ammunition hidden under her son's mattress in his be.
She also asked why Prince missed more than 100 days of school last year, to which she replied it was due to his hand surgery and several suspensions.
She told the jury Prince went to school on September 6, 2024, the day of the shooting, to fix his computer so he could attend Swan Creek online school. But Healey pointed out that Joppatowne High School was never made aware of this.
Healey also asked if he was switching schools due to his history of behavioral issues, to which his mother responded, "No. It was our choice."
Healey finished her cross-examination by showing at least four photos of Prince holding the gun in his left hand, to show that while his injury may have damaged his right hand, his left hand was fully functional.
Joppatowne classmate takes the stand
A classmate testified that he saw Grant push Jaylen Prince before the shot was fired.
According to deputies, there was some sort of dispute before Prince allegedly pulled the gun out of his backpack and shot Grant.
Witnesses testified that the altercation started over a girl.
Magness Douala told the jury he saw Prince flirting with a classmate, who was Grant's girlfriend. Douala added that he told Prince that Grant said to stay away from his girl, to which Prince replied, "Nobody wants her."
The witness said he and Prince entered the restroom, and Grant and some other friends were there.
Julian Mueller testified that Grant told him to take a video when he and Prince started arguing.
In the video, you hear Prince repeatedly say, "I am going to kill you," before reaching into his backpack and firing a gun.
The video also captured the sound of that fatal shot, and shows Grant fall into the corner.
Digital forensics shows proof of gun purchase
On Tuesday, digital forensics expert Heather Marsh said Prince's cellphone 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 several 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.
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.
