A Baltimore teen and his parents have been indicted by a grand jury on charges related to a high school shooting that occurred in October. The incident, which involved a schoolyard dispute and resulted in three young people being injured, has further underscored the issue of youth violence in the city. Despite a decline in overall gun violence in Baltimore, instances of students being shot on or near high school campuses have continued to rise.
The charges were announced by Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates during a news conference on Tuesday. Bates expressed shock at the allegations, emphasizing the role of parents in reducing youth violence. He stated, “As a parent, it is absolutely mindblowing to read the allegations in this indictment, where a child’s guardians facilitate in settling a schoolyard dispute with violence. Hear me clear, parents, if you have a child, you must also be responsible for your children’s actions.”
The parents, identified as William Dredden, 40, and Tiffany Harrison, 37, face multiple charges, including first-degree assault, illegally transporting a handgun, and conspiracy to commit attempted first-degree murder. Their 15-year-old son, who was indicted in adult court, remains unnamed due to being a minor.
According to the indictment, Dredden and Harrison drove their son to Carver Vocational Technical High School on the morning of October 27. They allegedly assisted him in attacking a student outside the school, using a handgun and their fists. As they were leaving, the son began shooting, injuring two other students. One of the victims reportedly fired back at the 15-year-old, who was also injured in the gunfire. Surveillance cameras captured most of the incident.
Additional individuals involved in the dispute are also facing charges, although specific details have not been released due to ongoing proceedings in juvenile court. Bates emphasized that the focus should be on Dredden and Harrison’s participation in the violence. He revealed that surveillance footage showed the couple and their son returning to their SUV after the shooting, driving back to Harrison’s house, and making certain actions, such as changing clothes and calling 911.
Bates concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for parents to be part of the solution rather than the problem. The indictment serves as a reminder of the pressing issue of youth violence in Baltimore and the importance of parental responsibility in addressing it.
