Gun used by Great Mills High School shooting suspect was legally owned by his father, officials say

GREAT MILLS, Md. - New information released by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office revealed that investigators have determined the handgun used by the 17-year-old suspected shooter at Great Mills High School was legally owned by his father.

Officials say Austin Rollins shot a 16-year-old female classmate and a 14-year-old male student in a school hallway just before 8 a.m. Tuesday. School Resource Officer Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill responded to the scene and confronted Rollins, who was armed with a Glock semiautomatic handgun, at a nearby hallway.

Gaskill fired a shot at Rollins, who also simultaneously returned fire as well, St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron said. Rollins was injured during the exchange of gunfire. The teenager was transported to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The 16-year-old girl, who was identified by her family as Jaelynn Willey, suffered life-threatening injuries during the shooting and was transported to University of Maryland Prince George's Hospital Center in critical condition. The 14-year-old boy was taken to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital after being shot in the leg. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday. A YouCaring fundraising page has identified him as Desmond Barnes.

Investigators say the shooting was not random and Rollins had a prior relationship with Willey that recently ended. Detectives are continuing to interview friends, family and other acquaintances to get further information about Rollins.

Anyone with information about 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, they are asked to send them to FBI.gov/greatmills.