Maryland teen shot by ex-boyfriend has died
Listen to this articleWASHINGTON — The teen who was shot in the head by her ex-boyfriend this week at their Maryland high school has died.
Jaelynn Willey, 16, died at 11:34 p.m. Thursday night, surrounded by her family, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office said on their behalf in a statement on Friday.
“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness we provide this update,” the sheriff’s office said.
Melissa and Daniel Willey held a news conference Thursday night to announce that their daughter was brain dead and that they planned to take her off life support.
“My daughter was hurt by a boy who shot her in the head and took everything from our lives,” Melissa Willey said as she cradled a young baby. She said her daughter had eight siblings.
Austin Rollins, 17, shot Willey Tuesday morning at Great Mills High School in Great Mills, Md.
A school resource officer who arrived on the scene within one minute exchanged gunfire with Rollins, who was fatally shot. The Sheriff’s Office has not said if the officer killed Rollins or if the teen shot himself.
Rollins also shot 14-year-old Desmond Barnes once in the leg. He was hospitalized but has since been released.
Authorities said on Wednesday that Rollins’ father legally owned the Glock handgun used in the shootings.
Students plan to converge on Washington, D.C. on Saturday to protest the nation’s gun control laws.
Survivors of the last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Fla., organized the demonstration, March for Our Lives. Seventeen students, teachers and staff were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day. Former student Nikolas Cruz, 17, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. A judge has entered a not-guilty plea on Cruz’ behalf.
This article was originally published by Talk Media News
Top photo of Jaelynn Willey from Facebook
Regina Holmes has more than two decades of experience as a journalist –editing and reporting for news dailies including the Miami Herald, Newsday and the Baltimore Examiner. She also launched an award-winning investigative news website that tackled police and political corruption in Baltimore. She has worked as a consultant for the World Bank and Baltimore County Public Schools. Regina became a journalist because even as a child she was fascinated by the power of the press: how it could force a president out of office, elect a president, expose corruption, and shine a light on discrimination. She is passionate about giving a voice to people who are disenfranchised, ignored or powerless, including people of color, senior citizens, the impoverished, people with disabilities, veterans, and children. Issues in which she is particularly interested include race relations, criminal justice, and police brutality. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. In her spare time, Regina enjoys traveling,antiquing, window-shopping for carsand watching HGTV.