MARYLAND — Desmond Barnes, the 14-year-old boy who was shot in the thigh in the Maryland school shooting has been released from the hospital, according to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Desmond was injured along with 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey after authorities said 17-year-old Austin Rollins opened fire inside of Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County on Tuesday.

The principal of Great Mills High School, Jake Heibel, released a letter on Wednesday announcing that the school will remain closed for the remainder of the week and will reopen on Monday, April 2, following spring break.

“We understand there is a need for some students to get back into the building to retrieve some of their things. We are working on a plan to open the building either Thursday or Friday. Information will be shared once available.

Words cannot express the sadness and grief that our school community is feeling right now. I know that we are shaken and scared after today’s events and will struggle for sometime trying to make sense of it all. I do not know exactly how but we will find a way to overcome this tragedy. Now more than ever we need to stand together as a school community to love, cherish, and support one another. We have and we will continue to stay strong, stay together, and find a way to get through this.

To assist law enforcement in their efforts, Great Mills High School will be closed for the remainder of the week and will reopen at the conclusion of spring break, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

As we know, our students may need someone to talk about this week. We have worked with Walden Sierra to provide support through their crisis hotline at 301-863-6661. In addition, regardless of the weather, two sites will be open tomorrow, March 21 from 11 am to 2 pm, to provide on-site counseling – Lexington Park Elem & B Banneker Elem. In addition to services tomorrow, Pax River Counseling Services on three notch road will be holding open group counseling at 8:30 tonight.

I will certainly share any pertinent news and updates as we move forward. I ask that each and every member of our Hornet family take care of one another and stay strong.

We Are now and forever…Great Mills!!!”