PERRY HALL, Md. (AP) — A 15-year-old student has been charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder in a shooting on the first day of classes at a Baltimore County high school, authorities said Tuesday.
Robert Wayne Gladden, Jr., was also charged with first-degree assault and was being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Baltimore County police said. No hearing has been scheduled for Gladden and the state's attorney's office did not know if he had legal representation. Police plan to hold a news conference later Tuesday.
Classes resumed Tuesday at Perry Hall High School amid a low-key police presence and about 150 students turned out for a prayer vigil organized by local churches on the grounds of the school.
Shane Boyer, 44, who was dropping off his 13-year-old daughter Corinne, said the vigil helped calm students still dealing with the shooting. Boyer says he knew immediately that his daughter was safe after the shooting because he received text messages from her. One read, "Someone just shot a gun in lunch," followed by another that said, "I ran out I am do (sic) scared there's helicopters + cops + we are all outside."
Authorities say the student opened fire Monday at the high school, allegedly getting off two shots and wounding a classmate before being rushed by teachers. The 17-year-old victim remained in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center on Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The suspect's father spoke to a reporter at his home that evening and said his son was the shooter. When asked about a motive for the shooting, the father indicated his son had been bullied. He gave no further details.
A woman who was also at the home and said she was related to the father, gave the following statement to the AP on the family's behalf: "We are horrified. We did not see this coming and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and the victim's family."
