Quick Hit:
A shooting at Apalachee High School in northern Georgia on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two students. The shooter, a 14-year-old student, was taken into custody.
Key Details:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed during a press conference that two teachers and two students were killed. Nine others were injured and airlifted to local hospitals.
The shooter, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, surrendered to officers without resistance after being confronted by a school resource officer. The motive remains unclear, and investigators are working to establish a connection between the suspect and the victims.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statement, saying, “Our hearts are broken over this tragic event. We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire Barrow County community.”
Diving Deeper:
According to a report from FOX5, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that two teachers and two students were killed in Wednesday’s shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The suspect, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, was taken into custody after he surrendered to law enforcement shortly after they arrived at the scene. The GBI has yet to release the names of the victims.
The Barrow County Sheriff's Office began receiving emergency calls around 10:20 a.m., and officers responded swiftly, confronting the shooter within minutes. Sheriff Jud Smith stated that the school's resource officer engaged Gray, who promptly dropped his weapon and surrendered.
Smith mentioned that investigators have not established any known connection between the suspect and his victims. “We’re looking into all aspects surrounding the incident,” he said during a press conference. The GBI emphasized that gathering accurate information is their top priority, and the investigation remains ongoing, with another press conference expected in the coming hours.
In total, four people were killed, and nine others sustained injuries, many of whom were airlifted to hospitals. As the FBI and GBI lead the investigation, local schools in the area were briefly placed on lockdown, including Winder-Barrow High School, though no further threats were discovered.
Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences in a statement: “Our hearts are broken over this tragic event. We are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire Barrow County community. We’ve mobilized all available state resources to assist in the investigation and provide support during this difficult time.”
The Apalachee High School campus was cleared by 11:30 a.m., and students were safely released to their families.