Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly sounded off on climbing juvenile crime in his historically safe part of the state.

His concerns and criticism follow the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy Saturday night in Aberdeen. A 16-year-old has been charged with the crime.

“Both were Havre de Grace High School students,” Aberdeen Police Sergeant Jason Neidig said.

Shockwaves were sent through the community and echoed over public airwaves Monday morning. Appearing on WBAL news radio, Cassilly blamed a lack of accountability for the rise in youth violence.

“When they understand there’s no consequences, behavior gets really bad,” Cassilly said. “And this is not me saying this. My last year in the Senate, both the chief of police for the city of Washington, D.C., and also for Baltimore, both said the problem was there’s no consequences for bad behavior among juveniles, and it’s only gotten worse.”

Back in September, another brazen shooting occurred inside Joppatowne High School. A 16-year-old is accused of killing a 15-year-old in the bathroom with classes still in session.

Furthermore, in Aberdeen, a FOX45 investigation revealed a 16-year-old charged with raping and killing 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton was allowed to attend Edgewood High School. This despite police identifying him as an alleged MS-13 gang member, undocumented immigrant and primary murder suspect.

“It’s absolutely a school safety issue,” Cassilly said.

In addition to clearer consequences, Cassilly is calling for clearer communication to our school systems. He argues a notice should be sent when youth are being investigated or accused of violent crimes, not just arrested.

“You’ve got a kid who is a suspect, or the suspect in a rape and murder, is sitting in the classroom next to your daughters and your sons and interacting with them, with no one in the school system knowing that,” Cassilly said. “That’s nonsense, there’s got to be a different standard here.”

Turning towards Annapolis, he questioned if his calls on the local radio will reach those who hold the power to create change.

“This has got to be reversed. Unfortunately, I don’t see an appetite yet in the General Assembly to re-look at this. I think that would be a terrible tragedy,” he said.

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