UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A man has been found not guilty of the 2023 murder of high schooler Jada Medrano-Moore but was found guilty on several other lesser charges.
Prosecutors had alleged Abdurahman Diaby — who was 17 at the time of the crime — shot and killed 16-year-old Medrano-Moore when she stepped in to protect her brother during a Sept. 11, 2023, fight near DuVal High School in Lanham, Maryland.
After a trial this week that involved several conflicting testimonies on what really happened in the moments prior to Medrano-Moore's death, Diaby was found guilty on lesser charges of first-degree assault, possession of a firearm under the age of 21, reckless endangerment and use of a firearm during a violent crime.
State's Attorney for Prince George's County, Aisha Braveboy, said she was disappointed in the verdict, and described it as a compromise not based on the facts. She said what happened last year was very clearly murder, and detailed how Diaby and three other people deliberately made plans to go to DuVal High School with the express purpose of shooting children.
A date for Diaby's sentencing has not been set yet, but he faces up to 50 years in prison. Three other people were charged in this case and their trials will begin later this year and early next year. Braveboy says that despite today’s not guilty verdict, her office will continue to pursue murder charges against the others.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.