ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. — Nearly one year after 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey died at a shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County, Md., her mother is opening up about what life has been like without her days before what would have been her 17th birthday.
"You trust that they're going to go to school, then come home and then they don't and, " Melissa Willey said. "That's not good."
It was a normal start to the school day on March 20, 2018 at Great Mills High when the terrifying sound of gunshots blistered through the halls. Austin Rollins, 17, opened fire using his father's glock semi-automatic handgun.
Jaelynn was shot in the head while in the hallway as she was getting ready for math class.
The bullet that killed her also hit another student, 14-year-old Desmond Barnes, in the leg. He found shelter and called 911. Barnes survived the shooting, but Jaelynn lay in a hospital fighting for her life.
After learning about the shooting, Melissa Wiley and her oldest son, Cameron, tried desperately to reach Jaelynn on her cellphone.
"It's pretty scary," Wiley recalled. "It's frustrating, too. She's not the type of kid that wouldn't answer her phone, especially in an emergency."
That’s how Wiley knew her daughter was a victim.
“As soon as I didn't get a hold of her, I knew there was something wrong," she said.
Two days, later Jaelynn's family said goodbye to her when she was taken off life support. Wiley said waiting those two days was a nightmare.
"Pretty much a living hell," Wiley expressed. "A lot of people, a lot of decisions, just a lot."
Wiley said she will never forget Jaelynn’s laugh or her smile. She still visits Great Mills. Two of her children go there and as she walks the halls, she remembers Jaelynn.
"It's sad to think that she was hear and gone very quickly," Wiley said. "If Jaelynn were alive today, she would be 16, a junior at Great Mills and she'd probably be picking something for her future. She wanted to do swimming with special needs children."
She would have turned 17 on Feb. 24. Her mom said she would be swimming and hanging out on her birthday. She was the second oldest of nine and shared a passion with her siblings for swimming.
When Jaelynn passed, people in the community ribbons that were the school’s colors, green and gold.
Jaelyn was known throughout her community as a happy, easy going girl with a bright future. She loved school and spending time with family and friends.
Now, Wiley wears a special silver necklace every day that has Jaelynn's picture on it. Another mom gave it to her the night Jaelyn would have been at prom.
Later in February, a swim meet is planned to raise money for a scholarship in her name.
A memorial will be installed at the school in a few months.