LANHAM, Maryland - A 17-year-old boy has been apprehended and is now facing murder charges following the tragic shooting death of a 16-year-old girl near DuVal High School earlier this week, according to authorities.
Jayda Medrano-Moore was fatally shot during a confrontation between two groups of teenagers in Lanham, Maryland. A teen hailing from Glenarden was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the incident. Law enforcement sources confirmed that the juvenile suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been charged as an adult with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, and a firearms-related offense.
Superintendent Millard House II of Prince George's County Public Schools revealed that the arrested suspect was a student at Charles Herbert Flowers High School, located in Springdale, approximately five miles south of DuVal High.
At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, "It shouldn't have happened, and it didn't have to happen."
Jayda Medrano-Moore was described as a "star in every sense of the word," and her untimely death has left the community in profound grief, Alsobrooks added.
The fatal shooting transpired during a dispute between groups of young people, with Chief of Police Malik Aziz characterizing it as stemming from a "petty beef." Aziz elaborated that Jayda stepped in between the groups when a gun was drawn, and she tragically lost her life as a result.
For Jayda's family, the news of the teen's arrest brought mixed emotions. "We lost our star, Jayda. And for the other family, they lost their child as well, being that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars," expressed Jayda's aunt, Wendy Liriano.
According to preliminary investigations, Jayda, a resident of Greenbelt, was walking on Palamar Drive after leaving school when the altercation erupted due to an ongoing dispute. During the confrontation, the teenage suspect produced a firearm.
Charging documents indicate that the accused boy allegedly told a friend that he and Jayda were struggling over the gun when it discharged accidentally, and he had not intended to shoot her.
Jayda was accompanied by her brother at the time of the shooting, as her father had previously conveyed to News4. She was discovered with gunshot wounds around 3:45 p.m. and was rushed to a hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead.
Anonymous tips proved instrumental in leading to the arrest of the teenage suspect, as both police and prosecutors acknowledged.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy had a strong message for young individuals involved in criminal activities: "You will not scare your peers into silence. They will speak up, and they have spoken up in this case."
The suspect had been "out and about" following the fatal shooting, seemingly living his life as if the incident had not occurred, Aziz revealed.
As of now, authorities are uncertain of how the teenage suspect obtained the firearm, and they do not currently possess the weapon.
Following the shooting, DuVal High and the nearby Robert Goddard Montessori School were placed on lockdown for several hours.
Jayda, a gifted and humble student, aspired to play professional basketball, her father disclosed. Her family is now making arrangements for her funeral.
The arrested suspect is being held without bond, and the police have not reported any prior contact with him.