On September 16, 2023, a 14-year-old girl lost her life due to an incident in Aurora, Kansas, while she was with a local deputy sheriff.
Jaylee Chillson had run away from her home earlier and was later located by the deputy at an outdoor party. The deputy, acting upon a directive from the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office, was tasked with safely returning her home. The situation took a turn when, on their way to the patrol car, Chillson pulled out a firearm and shot herself. Efforts by the deputy and an off-duty firefighter to revive her were in vain as she was declared dead on-site.
The outdoor event near 210th R. and Lark Road had a mix of college and high school attendees, several of whom bore witness to the event. With the involvement of their own deputy in the incident, the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office decided to involve the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for a thorough investigation.
Jaylee’s parents posted on Facebook that their daughter had been bullied for at least the past year. They reported that she was excluded from sports teams, sent mean messages, ignored at school, and even bad-mouthed by other parents.
Manhattan, Kansas-born Jaylee was an enthusiastic individual with a fondness for the outdoors. She was involved in activities like hunting, fishing, and camping and loved playing softball. Her dream was to work as a diesel mechanic, and she cherished the times she rode with her father in his semi-truck. She leaves behind her parents, four brothers, and grandparents. A GoFundMe initiative has been started to provide financial support to the family.
