Teen Wounded In School Shooting 'Brain Dead'; To Be Taken Off Life Support
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A Maryland teen who was critically wounded in a school shooting is set to be taken off life support.
Melissa Willey spoke Thursday night, and said that her daughter, 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey, has "no life left in her." She said Jaelynn would be removed from life support during the evening.
"On Tuesday of this past week, our lives changed completely and totally forever. My daughter was hurt by a boy who shot her in the head and took everything from our lives," she said.
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The update from the Willey family was given at the hospital in Prince George's County, where their daughter had been fighting for her life.3832784
Visibly upset, the parents of 16-year-old Great Mills High School shooting victim Jaelynn Willey approached to the hospital podium to provide an update on her condition that no one wanted to hear.
"She will not make it, we will be taking her off life support this evening," Willey said.
Jaelynn had been in recovery after being shot in the head during Tuesday's school shooting that authorities say was carried out by 17-year-old Austin Rollins, who used a gun that was legally owned by his father.
"She is brain dead and has nothing...No life left in her," Jaelynn's mother said.
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has said the shooting, which also left 14-year-old Desmond Barns wounded, was not a random act of violence.
On Wednesday, the sheriff's officer revealed that Rollins and Willey had been in a relationship that had recently ended.
The investigation into the shooting remains active, and so far, investigators say they haven't found any threats that would have given prior warning of a coming attack
Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill is being credited as the hero who stopped Rollins, firing a single shot during the encounter.
RELATED: School Resource Officer Credited With Stopping Md. School Shooting
It still remains unclear whether Rollins was killed by the deputy's bullet, or if he took his own life.
Students who were there are now reflecting on the horror.
"If he wasn't there, I don't know what he would have done," one student said. "He had the gun to his head, but I don't know if he would have shot more students or just killed himself right there."
What is certain is that lives are forever changed.
Willey was one of nine children, the second oldest in the family. She was also on the school's swim team.
The family also thanked all the medical staff and the community for all their support.
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