The community of Winder, Georgia, is mourning the loss of two students and two teachers who were tragically killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. This marks the deadliest school shooting of the year among 45 incidents so far. Here’s an overview of the situation:
Suspect Arrested: Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High, has been arrested and is facing murder charges. He will be tried as an adult, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith. Authorities are working to determine when his first court appearance will take place.
Victims Identified: The victims have been identified as Mason Schermerhorn, 14; Christian Angulo, 14; Richard Aspinwall, 39; and Christina Irimie, 53. Aspinwall and Irimie were math teachers, with Aspinwall also serving as an assistant football coach.
Nine Injured: Nine others—eight students and one teacher—were injured and taken to the hospital. All are expected to survive, according to the GBI.
Shooting Details: The attack was first reported at 10:20 a.m. ET. School resource officers were on-site, and police arrived quickly to take control of the situation. Gray was apprehended after being confronted by a school resource deputy.
Weapon Used: Gray used an AR-platform weapon in the attack. While authorities are investigating how the gun was brought into the school, details about its acquisition remain unclear.
Prior Threat: Apalachee High School had received a phone threat earlier in the day, warning of shootings at five schools, with Apalachee as the first. The origin of the call is still unknown.
Schools Locked Down: Schools in Barrow County were placed on lockdown as a precaution. However, no other incidents were reported.
Government Response: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and President Joe Biden expressed their condolences and pledged state and federal support. Biden reiterated the need for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. US Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the FBI and ATF are assisting in the investigation.
School Closures: Schools in the Barrow County district, which serves over 15,000 students, will remain closed for the rest of the week as the investigation continues.
Historical Context: This shooting is the deadliest of the 45 school shootings this year. There have been 385 mass shootings in the US so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
The Suspect’s Background
Gray had been previously questioned by law enforcement regarding online threats involving school shootings. Despite anonymous tips, no action was taken at the time as no probable cause was found. The current investigation seeks to determine whether the shooter had any prior connection to the victims.
Students at the school recounted the chaotic scene, including one student, Lyela Sayarath, who saw Gray return to their Algebra class with a gun but did not open the door when he knocked.
Officials are continuing to investigate the shooter’s motives and are evaluating the large amount of evidence collected.
Governor Kemp praised the swift action of first responders, while GBI Director Chris Hosey commended the school’s faculty and staff for their heroic efforts to protect students, noting that their actions likely prevented a greater tragedy.
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