Kevin Kinsey is convicted of killing a teen in shooting at a party

He's sentenced to 20 years in prison

A Maryland teenager has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of killing a 14-year-old student, according to Harford County court officials.

Kevin Kinsey was 16 years old when he shot and killed Jayden Winchester during a Halloween party in November 2024, court documents show.

Winchester was a student and a football player. He died after being shot in the head while sitting in the back seat of a car with Kinsey.

Kinsey was tried as an adult and was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and using a firearm, according to court records.

The judge ruled that Kinsey would be eligible for parole after serving 10 years of his sentence.

Investigations showed the shooting occurred after the homeowner asked everyone at the party to leave.

Six teenagers, including Kinsey and Winchester, got into a car. According to charging documents, Winchester said something that angered Kinsey.

Police witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the back seat where the two teens were sitting.

Aberdeen Police Captain Will Reber said, "Events like this shock the conscience, especially when the victims are children. This was a 14-year-old boy who went to school and played sports, and now it’s all over."

After the shooting, Kinsey fled the scene but later returned, claiming he did not intend to shoot Winchester and was just looking for the gun.

He told police the incident was "an accident" and that he was "scared and did not want to go to jail."

Investigators revealed that the weapon used was registered to Kinsey’s father.