Student safety is a top priority for some Maryland lawmakers during this year’s legislative session, after a FOX45 News investigation found a teen suspected of murder had been enrolled in two state high schools, and neither school was told he was considered dangerous.

Several legislators have already drafted bills intended to keep students safe in class, including Republican State Del. Mike Griffith, who represents Harford and Cecil counties.

When asked if he believed that the student safety was at risk at Edgewood High School and Lansdowne High School, where the teen suspect, Walter Martinez, had been enrolled, Griffith responded: “Yes, 100%.”

In August, Martinez, an MS-13 gang member, entered a guilty plea to murder charges in the 2022 death of 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton in Harford County.

He was identified as the primary suspect soon after Hamilton’s murder, according to charging documents, when Martinez was 16. During the police investigation Martinez, who was in the country illegally as an unaccompanied minor, was placed in foster care with Child Protective Services. In September of 2024, FOX45 News first reported that while police were awaiting DNA results from Martinez to potentially link him to the crime, the teen was enrolled in two public high schools, and neither school was informed he was a threat.

“That’s obviously unbelievably concerning and something that, as a state, we need to address,” Griffith said.

His bill would prevent the possibility of another Martinez being in school with other students, he said.

Right now, Maryland law only requires schools to be notified if a student is arrested and charged with certain crimes — known as reportable offenses.

Griffith’s bill does two things. First, it expands the number of reportable offenses to include additional sex crimes. And second, it empowers state’s attorneys to alert school superintendents or their designees if a student is suspected of committing a violent felony.

“We can make sure the notification is very narrow between the state’s attorney and the superintendent and then give the superintendent the ability to make an informed decision to protect the students,” explained Griffith. Griffith’s bill does not mandate that state’s attorneys inform schools if a student is being investigated for a violent felony. They will have discretion, which, according to Griffith, is designed to balance and protect the due process rights of the student being investigated with the safety of students in school.

“This may not be appropriate for all matters. But we need to empower the state’s attorneys to make the right decisions,” said Griffith. “And if they don’t, then the public’s going to hold them accountable. The biggest part of this bill is to create accountability, which will then hopefully lead to more student safety.”

Baltimore County Republican Del. Nino Mangione also has filled legislation he calls The Student Protection Act of 2025. Mangione’s bill would bar “children suspected of a crime of violence” from attending school “in-person” until the “investigation is complete.” Instead, a school would have to provide “alternative educational options,” such as virtual learning.

“I refused to sit there and allow this type of just total mistakes, total chaos in our system,” Mangione told FOX45 in November.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, declined to comment on these two bills, which have yet to be formally introduced. But back in September, the governor said he will to working with anybody to make sure kids are safe in school.

“Students need to feel safe inside of their classrooms. And when that is not happening, it has to be addressed,” Moore said.

Over the 90-day legislative session in Annapolis, FOX45 will be following the bills introduced by Griffith and Mangione and provide updates on any progress or pushback these bills receive. Have a news tip? Contact Chris Papst at cjpapst@sbgtv.com.