Crimesider
Crimesider
August 29, 2012 3:49 PM

Robert Wayne Gladden, Jr., accused Maryland high school shooter, had troubled life, records show

By
Crimesider Staff
Topics
Daily Blotter

Robert Wayne Gladden, Jr., is charged as an adult with attempted first degree murder and first degree assault in the shooting of a classmate on the first day of school at a suburban Baltimore high school.

/ AP Photo/ Baltimore County Police Department

(CBS/AP) TOWSON, Md. - Robert Wayne Gladden Jr., the 15-year-old accused of shooting an intellectually disabled classmate at Perry Hall High School in Maryland last week, was accustomed to firearms in the home and had endured his parents' contentious divorce, court documents show.

After Gladden was taken into custody Monday, police searching the Kingsville home where he lives with his mother and stepfather found 11 guns, including shotguns, rifles, a 9mm handgun and two antique pistols. His stepfather is facing charges related to those guns.

Police say they also recovered marijuana and found a spent rifle casing in Gladden's bedroom.

Court documents indicate Gladden had a troubled home life. His parents were involved in contentious divorce proceedings that stretched over four years and included custody disputes. Documents show his father was behind more than $8,400 on child support payments.

Gladden's 41-year-old father, Robert W. Gladden, also has a history of trouble with the law. In 2010, the younger Gladden answered the door when police executed a search warrant at his father's home, looking for drugs and guns, documents show. Police seized a 12-gauge shotgun during that search along with marijuana, and prosecutors later sought the forfeiture of the shotgun and a .45-caliber handgun.

Meanwhile, Gladden's stepfather, 43-year-old Andrew Piper, faces new charges of illegal gun possession and drug possession stemming from Monday's search. Piper was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous conviction for grand theft, documents show.

According to police and court documents, the younger Gladden brought a disassembled shotgun, 21 rounds of ammunition and a bottle of vodka with him for the first day of school Monday morning. On his Facebook page, he wrote, "First day of school, last day of my life."

The double-barreled shotgun was an antique and was taken from his father's house, police said.

Police said he assembled the shotgun in a restroom and walked into the cafeteria, where he pointed the gun at a nearby table and opened fire. Daniel Borowy, a 17-year-old student who classmates say has Down syndrome, was wounded in the back. He was in critical condition Tuesday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Gladden's attorney said his client brought the shotgun to school to intimidate bullies and did not intend to shoot anyone. Police have said bullying was not a motive for the shooting.

A bail review hearing for Gladden, who has been charged as an adult with attempted murder and assault, was postponed Wednesday afternoon because the teen was still at a state psychiatric hospital where he was sent for an evaluation. He is being held without bail, and a new hearing was not immediately scheduled.

Complete coverage of the Perry Hall High School shooting on Crimesider


2 Comments +

Follow Crimesider

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
48 Hours 48 Hours for iPad® A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.
CBS News on Facebook

  • 48 Hours iPad App

    Big changes for the 2012-2013 season! Watch the current week's episode for FREE up to a week after it airs or subscribe for access to all shows, classic episodes and more!