A shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to nine others. Among the deceased are two students, Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, as well as two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school, has been arrested and charged with murder. Authorities have confirmed that Gray will be prosecuted as an adult. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed that the suspect used an AR-style rifle in the attack. An ongoing investigation aims to determine how the weapon was obtained and brought into the school.
Nine individuals, including eight students and one teacher, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to GBI Director Chris Hosey. The shooting prompted a precautionary lockdown of all schools in Barrow County.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith described the situation as “an evil thing” and emphasized the seriousness of the ongoing investigation. “This is a very, very fluid investigation,” Smith said during a press conference outside the school.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their condolences and called for urgent action on gun control legislation. President Biden lamented the tragedy, stating, “What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart.”
The shooting at Apalachee High is the 604th mass killing in the U.S. since 2006, according to a database maintained by USA Today, the Associated Press, and Northeastern University. It is the first school mass killing of the fall 2023 semester, following a dramatic rise in school shootings this year. A recent study found that gun violence in schools during the previous academic year resulted in 36 deaths and 87 injuries.
Gray was previously interviewed by local law enforcement in 2023 after the FBI’s National Threat Operations Centre received anonymous tips about online threats involving a school shooting. The tips, which included images of guns but lacked specific details, led to an interview with Gray and his father. At that time, no probable cause for arrest was found, and Gray’s father claimed his son did not have unsupervised access to firearms.
The incident has led to widespread expressions of sympathy and calls for action from various officials. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has directed state resources to the affected area and urged Georgians to pray for the community. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the ongoing gun violence epidemic, calling it “outrageous” that parents fear for their children’s safety.
Former President Donald Trump also expressed his condolences, stating that “our hearts are with the victims and loved ones” affected by the shooting.
The FBI continues to investigate, and local officials are coordinating efforts to support the community. Schools in Barrow County will remain closed for the rest of the week, with crisis counseling being offered to students.
Written By: Idu Sunita