Georgia school shooter stopped by School Resource Officer that Kamala Harris wanted "out of schools"

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Quick Hit:

A tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in northern Georgia on Wednesday was brought to an end when a 14-year-old gunman surrendered to an armed School Resource Officer (SRO). Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith acknowledged the officer's presence likely saved lives—an acknowledgment that clashes with a 2019 position taken by Kamala Harris, who argued for getting "police officers out of schools."

Key Details:

  • The Apalachee High School shooter, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, opened fire, killing two teachers and two students. Nine others were injured in the attack.

  • A School Resource Officer confronted Gray, leading to his surrender without further violence. Sheriff Jud Smith emphasized that the SRO’s quick action likely saved lives.

  • In 2019, Harris, while running for president, called for getting "police officers out of schools," arguing for “demilitarizing” school campuses.

Diving Deeper:

A tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning left four dead, including two teachers and two students. The shooter, Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school, was apprehended after surrendering to a School Resource Officer who was present at the scene.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith praised the swift response, noting that the officer’s intervention likely prevented more deaths. “The shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up, it would end with an officer-involved shooting,” Smith explained during a press conference. The shooter, armed and ready to continue, dropped his weapon and was taken into custody without further resistance.

The shooting has reignited debate about school safety, especially in light of comments made by Kamala Harris in 2019. During a town hall event at the 2019 Presidential Justice Forum held at Benedict College in South Carolina, Harris called for the removal of police officers from schools as part of a plan to "demilitarize" campuses and reform school discipline practices. At the time, she argued that officers disproportionately targeted students of color for disciplinary action.

Sheriff Smith’s statements highlighted just how different Wednesday’s tragedy could have been without the immediate intervention of the armed officer on campus. 

Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences to the families and community affected by the tragedy. “Our hearts are broken over this tragic event. We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire Barrow County community,” he said.

The investigation into the shooter’s motive is ongoing, and the school has since reopened after being cleared by law enforcement. However, the incident underscores the role SROs play and contrasts sharply with calls to remove these officers from schools.

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