On September 16, 2023, a 14-year-old girl lost her life due to a self-inflicted gunshot in Aurora, Kansas, while in the company of a local deputy sheriff. 

Jaylee Chillson, who had run away from home earlier that day, was found by the deputy while she was attending an outdoor party.

The deputy, responding to a call from the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office, located Chillson with the intention of returning her to her home. After finding Chillson, the deputy escorted her to his patrol car. It was during this time that Chillson produced a firearm and shot herself. Despite immediate life-saving measures taken by the deputy and an off-duty firefighter, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The outdoor field party held near 210th R. and Lark Road in Aurora, was attended by both college and high school students. Several attendees witnessed the incident. 

To ensure impartiality, given the presence of their deputy during the incident, the Cloud County Sheriff’s Office has requested assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to conduct a death investigation. Jaylee’s father, Jeb, suggested that she had been bullied and shunned by “friends” during the past year.

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Jaylee Chillson had a keen interest in outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and hunting, and she was an avid softball player. She aspired to be a diesel mechanic and enjoyed riding with her father in a semi-truck. She is survived by her parents, four brothers, and four grandparents. To assist the family with the unforeseen expenses, a GoFundMe page has been established, allowing the community to contribute.