Jaelynn Willey

UPDATE Monday, March 26

Hollywood, MD – Funeral services for Jaelynn Willey have been announced by Brinsfield Funeral Home. The services will be held at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) at 24801 Three Notch Road. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 29 from 2 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 3 p.m. The funeral will be held Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m.

UPDATE

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, on behalf of the Willey family, advises that on March 22, 2018, at 11:34 pm, Jaelynn Rose Willey died, surrounded by her family. It is with heavy hearts and great sadness we provide this update.

UPDATE – 

On March 22 shortly after 8 p.m., the Willey family held a press conference at the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center to give an update on, Jaelynn Willey’s status. With her husband and loved ones by her side, Jaelynn’s mother, Melissa said that their lives have changed forever. “As of now Jaelynn is still on life support, but she will not make it. We will be taking her off life support this evening.” said Willey.

Jaelynn was shot in the head by student gunman, Austin Rollins on the morning of Tuesday, March 20, at Great Mlls High School. Police say there are indications of a prior relationship between the two.

You can help support the Willey family through their donation page, here. 

 

GREAT MILLS, Md. – On March 20, 2018, at approximately 7:58 am, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police personnel responded to Great Mills High School, located at 21130 Great Mills Road, Great Mills, Maryland, for reported shots fired inside the school.  Upon arrival, three individuals were discovered suffering from gunshot wounds.

Preliminary investigation determined on March 20, 2018, at approximately 7:50 am, Austin Wyatt Rollins, age 17, of Lexington Park, entered the school, where he was enrolled as a student.  Several minutes after entering the school, Rollins shot a 16 year old female he was acquainted with, in the school hallway, gravely injuring the female victim.  A 14 year old male student who was in the same hallway was shot in the leg. The female victim sustained life threatening injuries, and is currently in critical condition at University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center.  The male victim was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment and was discharged on March 21, 2018.  The investigation is continuing by detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID).

At the time of the shooting, School Resource Officer Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill, was at the school, and responded to a report of a person with a gun.  Dfc. Gaskill located and confronted Rollins, who was still armed with a handgun in a nearby hallway.  Dfc. Gaskill fired one shot at Rollins, who simultaneously fired a shot as well; Rollins sustained a life threatening injury from the exchange.

Rollins, and the victims were provided with medical attention at the scene; Rollins was subsequently transported to University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.  Rollins was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, Maryland for an autopsy.

All indications suggest the shooting was not a random act of violence. Rollins and the female victim had a prior relationship which recently ended. The investigation has not yet uncovered any public social media posts/threats made by Rollins.  Detectives are continuing to interview friends, family, and associates of Rollins to obtain further information.  Once all facts are collected and verified, information will be disseminated to the public.  Investigation has determined the handgun utilized by Rollins in the shooting was legally owned by Rollins’ father.

As a response to the tragic situation Great Mills High School and our community faced yesterday the St. Mary’s County Health Department has set up a resource page www.smchd.org/crisis which has several links to helpful resources for parents and the community.  The page also has links to Walden Sierra’s site, their crisis hotline, and links to local mental health service providers and information for community support.  www.smchd.org/crisis

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301) 475-4200 extension *1996 or by email at melissa.hulse@stmarysmd.com, information may also be provided to 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).  If anyone has photographs or video of the incident please send to FBI.gov/greatmills.

Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill 

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office released the above image of Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill who was on duty as a school resource officer during the shooting. DFC Gaskill engaged the suspect shooter, Austin Wyatt Rollins within seconds of hearing the initial gunfire. His quick response potentially saved many lives, according to officials.  

The 14-year-old male victim involved with today’s shooting at Great Mills High School is good condition, according to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. He was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s this morning after being shot in thigh. There has not been an update on the condition of the 16-year-old female patient at this time. She was stabilized at MedStar St. Mary’s and transported to PG Shock Trauma for further treatment.  

Austin Wyatt Rollins 

The Great Mills High School shooter has been identified as 17-year-old, Austin Wyatt Rollins who was a senior at Great Mills High. There may have been a prior relationship between Rollins and the female victim, says officials. 

During a press conference, Sheriff Cameron said that the entire incident was over within a minute. After the initial shots were fired, the school resource officer, Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill responded, engaged Rollins in gunfire and secured the scene. School staff proceeded to render aid until First Responders arrived.

Rollins was announced dead at Charles Regional Medical Center. The female victim was stabilized at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and transported to PG Shock Trauma for further treatment. The male victim was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s and is reported to be in stable condition. 

UPDATE

Reports say that the suspect involved with the Great Mills High School shooting has died. The female victim, 16, was taken to PG Shock Trauma and is in critical condition. The male victim, 14, was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and is in stable condition. 

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan issued the following statement following the shooting incident at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County, Maryland:

“The school shooting that took place this morning at Great Mills High School remains an active investigation, and Maryland State Police are on the scene assisting local and federal law enforcement. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and all of the first responders who swiftly and bravely took action to secure the school. The First Lady and I are praying for those who were injured, their families and loved ones, and for the entire Great Mills community as they come together to heal in the wake of this horrific situation.

“But prayers are not enough. Although our pain remains fresh and the facts remain uncertain, today’s horrible events should not be an excuse to pause our conversation about school safety. Instead, it must serve as a call to action.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD 5th District) remarked “We need safer schools. I’m angry nothing is being done in Washington. We need tougher background checks.” He also stated “It’s possible the school resources officer’s actions saved more lives. “

The St. Mary’s County Government released this following statement concerning the GMHS shooting. 

Leonardtown, MD – St. Mary’s County Government wishes to express its regret and concern for those injured in today’s shooting at Great Mills High School. St. Mary’s County Emergency Services has activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to the incident.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools is coordinating the evacuation of students to the reunification center.  Parents are asked not to come to Great Mills High School, but rather, meet their child at Leonardtown High School, 23995 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown.

Additional updates on the incident are forthcoming.

The scene has been contained, according to Maryland State Police. Unconfirmed reports say that the shooter was . The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is on scene and being assisted by the FBI.

Reports say that a single shooter, student, shot at a female and male at GMHS. A school resource officer fired at the shooter. Three are injured including the shooter, two are in critical condition. The resource officer is unharmed.

Lexington Park, MD – St. Mary’s County authorities responded to a shooting at Great Mills High School Tuesday morning, March 20. Reports from responders to the mass-casualty incident confirm at least three injuries. There are unconfirmed reports of at least one fatality. The three injured have been transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. 

Great Mills students are being transported by buses to Leonardtown High School (LHS). Parents should go to LHS to reunite with their children. 

Lexington Park, MD – An alert has been issued for a shooting at Great Mills High School. Sources are reporting at least one death and a CPR in progress. The alert was issued shortly before 8 a.m. Great Mills students are being bused to Leonardtown High School. Parents are advised to go to LHS to reunite with children.