SAEDNEWS: Four people were killed and nine others hospitalized in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday.
According to SAEDNEWS, On Wednesday, September 4, a tragic mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, left four individuals dead and nine others injured. The suspect, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, is currently in custody and will be charged with murder, facing trial as an adult.
The four victims of this horrific event include two students and two teachers. They are:
- Mason Schermerhorn, a 14-year-old student
- Christian Angulo, a 14-year-old student
- Richard Aspinwall, a teacher and assistant football coach
- Christina Irimie, a teacher
All the wounded victims, which include eight students and one teacher, are expected to survive, according to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
The shooting began around 10:20 a.m. when the suspect reportedly left his Algebra class and then returned to target another classroom. A student in the classroom, Lyela Sayarath, explained that before the door was opened, another student spotted the gun and did not allow the shooter back inside. The shooter then moved to a neighboring classroom and opened fire.
Law enforcement arrived quickly on the scene, including two school resource officers who confronted the shooter almost immediately. Gray surrendered without resistance and was taken into custody.
Investigators are looking into how Gray managed to bring an AR-15-style rifle into the school. Earlier in the day, a phone threat was received warning of potential shootings at multiple schools, with Apalachee High School named as the first target. Authorities are investigating any connections the shooter may have had with others involved in this alarming threat.
Barrow County schools will be closed for the rest of the week while the investigation continues, and counseling services will be provided for those affected. In a show of community support, neighbors have been coming together to provide food and drinks to those waiting outside the school as the events unfolded.
Sheriff Jud Smith expressed his sorrow for the victims, stating, "My heart hurts for these kids. We don’t expect any more fatalities at this time," and emphasized the continued investigation into how this tragedy occurred.
