*Update 2/25/13: “Gladden was given a life sentence with all but 35 years suspended on an attempted first-degree murder charge, and 20 years to run concurrently for the use of a firearm during a violent act. He had pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 19. The other 27 counts against the teenager were dropped. Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Robert Cahill Jr. questioned the sincerity of Gladden’s proclaimed remorse ahead of the sentencing, citing that the teenager made disturbing remarks in previous telephone recordings.” Read more on The Patch
Just hours into the 2012-2013 school year, violence has broken out at a Baltimore County public high school. Baltimore County fire officials (via Twitter @BACOFireDept) confirm that a shooting has taken place at Perry Hall Highschool in Perry Hall, MD. A suburb in Baltimore County – located between Baltimore City and Bel Air.
Officials confirm that 1 student, a 17 year old male, was shot in the back. That student has been taken to Shock Trauma via Medevac. The shooter, a 15 year old male, has been taken into custody. Reports indicate that the shooting took place inside of the school’s cafeteria – which typically has a police officer present. It is reported that the shooter was troubled and was being picked-on prior to the shooting. The shooter left the cafeteria and returned with a shotgun.
Students were escorted to the nearby Perry Hall Shopping center as well as 2 other local schools where their parents were reuniting with them.
Perry Hall High school, which is attended by about 2,300 students, was visited by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week to address the nearly 800 English teachers in Baltimore County.
A student has arranged a “candle light vigil” on Friday evening at 8PM at the school to gather students and alumni in a sign of support for the community.
Perry Hall High school will re-open, following a normal schedule, on Tuesday morning.
Victim
The victim, a 17 year old male student named Daniel Borowy is in critical condition (as of 8/27/12 10:00PM) at Shock Trauma. A Facebook page has been created to offer support and encouragement and well wishes for Daniel as he is being treated for his injuries sustained in the shooting.
Hero
A guidance counselor named Jesse Wasmer (Mr. Wasmer) (along with several other teachers and eventually the school resource police officer) is credited with overpowering the shooter. A Facebook page has been created for people to post their appreciation and admiration for Wasmer’s heroic actions in the face of adversity.
Shooter
Reports from students say the Perry Hall High school student shooter Police have formally charged Robert “Bobby” Wayne Gladden, Jr. with attempted 1st degree murder and 1st degree assault. Gladden lives in Kingsville (Mt. Vista area) with his mother. His father lives in Middle River. His fathers home was raided by police in 2010 where marijuana and a shotgun were seized. The Facebook post from this morning is quite troubling – as is his Facebook profile, which mentions “SuicideSmile” and his employment of “murder suicide”. Bobby was apparently severely bullied in school.
“First day of school, last day of my life. t(~_~), fuck the world” reads Bobby Gladden’s tweet sent via mobile to Facebook