16-year-old girl in critical condition after Great Mills HS shooting; another student injured

GREAT MILLS, Md. - There has been a huge outpouring of support for one of the students wounded in a tragic school shooting in St. Mary’s County Tuesday morning.

A YouCaring fundraising page for Great Mills High School student Jaelynn Willey has already raised nearly $20,000 for her family as of 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officials say the 16-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at UM Prince George’s Hospital Center. She was wounded after a 17-year-old classmate opened fire just before 8 a.m. in a school hallway with a Glock semiautomatic handgun.

"There is an indication that a prior relationship existed between the shooter and the female victim," said St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron.

Willey's family said in a statement:

A 14-year-old male student was also injured in the shooting after suffering a gunshot wound to the thigh. He was taken to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital and is in good condition, hospital officials said.

The shooter was identified by authorities as 17-year-old Austin Rollins. He died after being confronted by Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill, a school resource officer. Sheriff Cameron said it is unclear if the shooter took his own life or was fatally shot by the deputy.

Great Mills High School was placed on lockdown following the shooting and students were later evacuated from the school. The students were transported by bus to Leonardtown High School where they were picked up by parents and guardians.