On Wednesday morning, a 14-year-old opened fire at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, resulting in the deaths of two students and two teachers, and injuring nine others, according to investigators.
The shooting has shocked the local community, situated between Atlanta and Athens, and quickly captured national attention. Federal and state law enforcement agencies are now involved in the ongoing investigation.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith described the shooting as “pure evil.”
“My heart aches for these kids and for our community,” Smith said. “But I want to make it clear that hate will not prevail here. Love will overcome this tragedy, and I assure you of that.”
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By late Wednesday, more information about the shooting was released, including the names of the victims and the identity of the suspected shooter.
Colt Gray, 14, a student at Apalachee High School, has been charged with murder and is expected to be held at a regional youth detention center, according to Sheriff Smith. Gray is being charged as an adult. Investigators also disclosed that Gray had been previously investigated for threats related to a potential shooting last year, though he was not charged at that time, according to the FBI Atlanta office.
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Gray is accused of using an AR-platform-style weapon in the shooting on Wednesday, but specifics about the circumstances and motive behind the teenager's actions inside the school are not yet available.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and GBI, responded to the school around 10:20 a.m. after reports of an active shooter led to a lockdown, according to the Barrow Sheriff’s Office.
At 10:23 a.m., 11th grader Henry van der Walt texted his mother: “I think there’s a school shooting.” Moments later, Becky van der Walt received another message.
The text exchanges between students and parents were likely repeated hundreds of times during the chaotic hours following the shooting, as students were evacuated from the school and parents rushed to find them.
Late Wednesday, the names of the victims were released. GBI Director Chris Hosey identified the two 14-year-old students who were killed as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. The teachers who lost their lives were assistant football coach Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, a math teacher, as noted on the school’s website.
Governor Brian Kemp, who was in Nevada for a scheduled event with the Republican Jewish Coalition, quickly returned to Georgia after hearing about the shooting. He pledged to provide all available state resources to assist with the investigation and appeared alongside the Barrow Sheriff and GBI Director later in the day.
“This is everybody’s worst nightmare,” Kemp said.
A student resource officer intervened to stop the alleged shooter, who is cooperating with investigators. The officer and other first responders are being recognized as heroes for their role in preventing the situation from worsening.
By late Wednesday, one victim remained at Grady Memorial Hospital and another at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, according to hospital officials. The others, who had been treated at regional hospitals, were released and are expected to survive, Sheriff Smith reported.
The school district will be closed for the rest of the week, with grief counselors available for support. A vigil was held Wednesday night at a nearby park.
As of March, Apalachee High School had an enrollment of just over 1,900 students, according to the Georgia Department of Education. The department is currently monitoring the situation.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods expressed his devastation over the shooting at Apalachee High School, saying in a statement, “I am heartbroken by the tragic events today. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected, as well as the entire Barrow County community. This is an unimaginable loss for Barrow and for our educational community across the state.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also responded, stating, “My prayers are with the students, staff, and families impacted by this senseless violence in Winder, Georgia. I have been in touch with Chief Darin Schierbaum, and the Atlanta Police Department is working with the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department to increase patrols around our schools for the rest of the day as a precaution. APD is also on standby to assist with this incident if needed. May God provide comfort to the victims and their families during these challenging times.”