by Robin Gericke, Executive Editor
The number of school shootings continues to increase; the latest happening at Great Mills High School in southern Maryland. According to TIME, authorities have identi ed the gunman as 17-year-old Austin Wyatt Rollins. Rollins injured two students.
Rollins himself later died at the hospital of gunshot wounds due to the quick response from Blaine Gaskill, an armed school resource officer (SRO).
CNN reported that Rollins entered a hallway at 7:55 a.m., which was before classes started. Armed with a handgun, he shot a 14-year-old male and a 16-year- old female student. Rollins had a prior relationship with the female student, but St. Mary’s County Sheri Tim Cameron reported that he could not con rm if that was a motive for the shooting.
At the time of publication, the female student sustained life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition. The male victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
SRO Gaskill is praised as a hero for his quick thinking. According to CNN, Gaskill responded to the scene in less than a minute and red a round at the shooter.
Cameron said Gaskill acted just as their personnel are trained. “You have to understand the situation that he responded in,” he said. “These are children, and I’m sure that weighs on his mind.”
Authorities cannot con rm whether a gunshot from Gaskill or a self-in icted gunshot injured and then killed Rollins. “While it’s still tragic, he may have saved other people’s lives,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said, according to TIME.
Hogan released a statement following the shooting and warned that “prayers are not enough” when it comes to preventing future school shootings.
Drawing by Austin Zweifel
