18-year-old acquitted of murder in shooting of teen girl outside Prince George’s Co. high school – WTOP News

An 18-year-old in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was acquitted of a murder charge in the fatal shooting of a teen girl trying to break up a fight outside a high school last yearbut was convicted of assault and firearms crimes.

The jury’s verdict came Friday after a weeklong trial in Prince George’s County Circuit Court.

Abdurahman Diaby was acquitted of the most serious charge — murder — in the death of 16-year-old Jayda Medrano-Moore. However, the jury found Diaby guilty of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said Diaby faces up to 50 years in prison on the lesser charges, when he is sentenced later.

“We think that this was a compromise verdict, you know, based on a number of factors,” Braveboy told reporters outside the courtroom Friday after speaking with jurors. “However, we know that he will be facing very significant time. He will be off of our streets for decades, we believe, and we look forward to presenting our arguments at the sentencing phase.”

Diaby, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was charged as an adult.

Authorities said Medrano-Moore was walking near the high school shortly after the school day had dismissed on Sept. 11, 2023, when a fight sparked by a “petty beef” between students of DuVal High School and another school broke out.

During the fight, police said Diaby pulled out a gun and shot Medrano-Moore when she attempted to intervene.

Three additional teens were arrested earlier this year and charged in Medrano-Moore’s killing.

This story is developing. Check back with WTOP for updates.

WTOP’s John Domen has contributed to this report. 

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