MARYLAND — Two students were shot at a Great Mills, Maryland High School Tuesday morning—the shooter, also a student, was later confirmed dead.
According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the gunman, armed with a handgun, opened fire in a hallway as classes were beginning and a male and female victim were struck. The 16-year-old female victim is in critical condition and the boy, 14, was considered stable.
Officials say a school resource officer, Blaine Gaskill, engaged the shooter, bringing the incident to an end.
The officer fired “at least a round at the shooter, and I believe the shooter also fired a round,” Sheriff Tim Cameron said at a news conference.
The shooter was identified as Great Mills High School student Austin Wyatt Rollins, 17.
Rollins was an Honor Student, the Sheriff said. According to his Facebook page, he was a NASCAR fan.
JUST IN: St. Mary’s County Sheriff IDs Great Mills High School student Austin Wyatt Rollins, 17, as alleged shooter
UPDATE: https://t.co/8hqhHGVMb2 pic.twitter.com/PZFHK6DrLV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 20, 2018
Police said in a news conference there is an indication that the female victim had been in a prior relationship with the shooter, but declined to elaborate further.
“This is your worst nightmare,” he added.
“This is what we train for, this is what we prepare for, and this is what we pray that we never have to do. On this day, we realized our worst nightmare,” Cameron said. “The notion of ‘it can’t happen here’ is no longer a notion.”
Agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene.
The school was placed on lockdown before students were evacuated from Great Mills High School to a reunification center at a nearby high school.
ABC7’s Kevin Lewis obtained scanner audio from the St. Mary’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services channel:
LISTEN: “Call St. Mary’s Hospital, warn them, they’re getting at least two priority one patients… Both of the priority one patients are head injuries, the priority two patient is going to be a leg injury, and they should see all of those patients in the next 20-25 minutes.” pic.twitter.com/LHF0RrbVpx
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) March 20, 2018
LISTEN: Here is the initial EMS dispatch for the shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
•1st period bell rings at 8am on most all school days.
•Shooting dispatch time – 8:02a. pic.twitter.com/DhSMODvTtT
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) March 20, 2018
Governor Larry Hogan issued the following statement following the shooting:
“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.”
There has been an incident at Great Mills High School. Parents please DO NOT respond to the school. Report to Leonardtown High School
— St. Mary’s Sheriff (@firstsheriff) March 20, 2018
A motive for the crime was not known.
