Maryland school to share safe firearm storage information after two student shootings

BALTIMORE — Harford County Public School officials are developing a communication plan to inform parents about secure firearm storage after two recent student shootings and a call from the county council earlier this week for the school system to start a firearm safety information campaign.

Council members introduced a resolution during Tuesday’s meeting encouraging Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson to make information regarding proper firearm storage and its importance, and resources from experts available on the school system’s website, and in an updated parent-student handbook before the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

“Evidence strongly suggests that secure firearm storage is an essential component to an effective strategy to keep schools, students, families and communities safe,” read the resolution. “Safe and secure storage practices can reduce gun injuries, decrease the risk for suicide among adolescents and prevent guns from being stolen.”

The resolution follows the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Warren Grant at Joppatowne High School less than a week into the school year and the recent fatal shooting of 14-year-old Jai’den Winchester at a Halloween party in Aberdeen.

In both cases, the suspected shooters were students under the age of 17, who are now both charged as adults for murder and other offenses.

“You never think you’d attend a student’s vigil before their graduation,” said Councilman and Harford teacher Jacob Bennett at the vigil for Winchester, his former student. “It is hard because you tie their shoes every day and help them with their lunch and the whole time, you don’t think that eight years later you’d be attending their vigil.”

In the case of the Joppatowne High School shooting, it is unclear how the suspect, 16-year-old Jaylen Prince, obtained the firearm he used but in Winchester’s case, the suspected shooter, 16-year-old Kevin Kinsey Jr., allegedly used a gun registered to his father, according to charging documents.

Both shootings raised concerns from community members regarding school safety that has prompted school and county officials to evaluate potential increased safety measures like metal detectors, in schools.

Harford School’s Manager of Communications Jillian Lader said the school system is aware of the adopted resolution and is actively working to develop a communication plan to share the desired information with the Harford Schools’ community. A projected timeline for completion is unknown.

“Encouraging people to be responsible gun owners and to make responsible choices, I think, is really important,” Bennett said. “Proper firearm storage can help keep firearms out of the hands of our children which can help keep them safe.”

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