'The system failed': Maryland leaders eye school safety measures after Fox45 investigation

Baltimore (WBFF) — Lawmakers are busy ahead of the upcoming legislative session in Annapolis working on bills to keep your children safe in school. And much of the work is in response to a Fox45 News investigation that found a suspected murderer was allowed to enroll in two local schools, and the schools didn’t know.

“The system failed. The state failed,” said Nino Mangione a Republican delegate representing Baltimore County. “This is one of the signature, I think, issues that we're facing. And we need to prioritize the safety of each and every student.”

Maryland’s 90-day legislative session in Annapolis starts in January and Mangione is ready. He has pre-filed legislation he’s calling “The Student Protection Act of 2025.” The 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 filed this legislation because I refused to sit there and allow this type of just total mistakes, total chaos in our system,” explained Mangione.

Mangione drafted the bill following a Fox45 News investigation into Walter Martinez. In July 2022, the MS-13 gang member killed 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton in Harford County. Soon after, police identified Martinez as the primary suspect, according to charging documents. While awaiting DNA results, Martinez, who was in the country illegally as an unaccompanied minor, was placed in foster care with Child Protective Services – where he was enrolled in two local public high schools and neither school was told he was a threat.

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“This can never happen again. This is the most outrageous thing I've ever seen in my six years in politics,” said Mangione.

One of the high schools Martinez attended was Lansdowne in Baltimore County. At a recent press event, Project Baltimore asked Baltimore County Schools superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers if the school system would consider supporting legislation similar to Mangione’s.

“Absolutely. The safety of our students and our staff is our number one concern,” explained Rogers. “And so, every tool that lawmakers can create to help support us in those endeavors – we are moving forward with them in lockstep.”

But Mangione is not the only state leader who wants to see change that stems from Project Baltimore’s reporting.

“We're here to work with our partners in the legislature,” said Dr. Joshua Michael the President of the Maryland State Board of Education. “What you've raised in this case is that far too often we're not in communication with our local law enforcement partners.”

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Remember, when Martinez was placed in foster care and then enrolled in school, Fox45 News uncovered the schools were not informed Martinez was dangerous. He was just walking the hallways. In response, state education officials like Dr. Michael are now working to enhance communication between law enforcement and schools, so district officials can be made aware of potential threats and then provide the most appropriate placement for students like Martinez.

“Unfortunately, right now, that's not happening enough,” Michael told Project Baltimore.

“It sounds like you're saying the system could improve,” said Papst. “To keep kids safe.”

Michael replied, “Absolutely.”