A 14-year-old suspect in the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, will be booked Wednesday night, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.
Colt Gray faces murder charges for the deaths of two teachers and two students at the high school, authorities confirmed.
The victims have been identified as 14-year-olds Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, along with teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, Hosey stated.
Gray, an Apalachee High student, will be tried as an adult, said Hosey and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
Nine other individuals, comprising eight students and one teacher, were hospitalised after the shooting on Wednesday morning, the GBI reported.
The incident prompted a frantic response as students and staff sought safety, while schools across the county went into lockdown. Parents anxiously awaited updates.
During the chaos, 14-year-old Macey Right texted her mother about the gunfire and asked to be picked up. Macey and her friends prayed in their classroom until they heard banging and yelling outside.
“I heard gunshots and people screaming, begging not to be shot, and classmates crying,” Macey recounted.
Police have identified the suspect in the Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia #SchoolShooting as 14-year-old Colt Gray
Video of the gun used in the Apalachee High School shootingBefore you call for gun bans, remember, it’s already iIIegal for minors to own guns. pic.twitter.com/Abbiy47W2P
— Ape𝕏 (@CubanOnlyTrump) September 4, 2024
Authorities had previously interviewed Gray in May 2023 after the FBI received anonymous tips about online threats involving school shootings. These threats included photos of guns. However, the FBI found no probable cause for an arrest at that time.
This shooting is the deadliest of the 45 school shootings recorded this year, according to a CNN analysis. It is among 11 school shootings with four or more fatalities since 2008.
The first report of an active shooter came at 10:20 a.m. ET. A school resource deputy confronted the shooter, who surrendered and was taken into custody, Sheriff Smith informed the media.
Lyela Sayarath, 16, described Gray, who sat next to her in algebra class, as leaving early without a bathroom pass. Shortly after, Gray was seen outside their classroom with a gun. He then targeted an adjacent classroom with an open door.
Lyela recalled hearing a burst of gunfire and then more shots in succession. Students dropped to the floor and moved to a corner. She speculated that Gray’s plan was not well thought out.
• The weapon used was an “AR platform-style weapon,” authorities revealed. Details on how the suspect obtained the weapon were not provided.
• Earlier, the school received a phone threat warning of shootings at five schools, with Apalachee being the first. The caller remains unidentified.
• Investigators have communicated with the suspect and his family, Sheriff Smith said.
• It remains unclear if the suspect had any connection to the victims, but this will be investigated.
• Schools in Barrow County will remain closed for the rest of the week.
• The US has experienced at least 385 mass shootings this year, averaging more than 1.5 per day, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Erin Clark was at work when her son, Ethan Haney, 17, a senior at Apalachee, texted her about the shooting. Ethan heard gunshots, secured his classroom door, and barricaded it with chairs and tables.
Clark described her terror upon receiving her son’s messages and prayed for his safety.
Emergency responders from several counties arrived, with multiple ambulances and a medical helicopter at the scene. Students gathered on the football field, forming prayer circles.
All Barrow County schools were locked down as a precaution, though no other incidents were reported. Critically injured victims were airlifted, and additional helicopters were on standby.
Grady Health System in Atlanta received one gunshot wound victim, while Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital treated two others. Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow and Gainesville also treated gunshot victims and individuals with panic attack symptoms.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has deployed state resources to assist, urging prayers for safety in classrooms statewide. President Joe Biden has been briefed and offered federal support. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated the DOJ is ready to assist.
Winder, with a population of about 18,338, is serviced by the Barrow County School System, the 24th largest in Georgia, with 15,340 students, including 1,932 at Apalachee High School.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Reuters reports that Georgia officers responded to a shooting at Apalachee High School, where four people were killed and nine injured, with a 14-year-old suspect in custody. (read more)
- New York Post reports multiple victims hospitalized after a school shooting in Georgia, where at least four people were killed and nine others injured. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is the suspect in the Winder, Georgia school shooting?
The suspect is 14-year-old Colt Gray.
How many people died in the Apalachee High School shooting?
Four people died: two teachers and two students.
What weapon was used in the Apalachee High School shooting?
An AR platform-style weapon was used.
How did the authorities respond to the shooting?
A school resource deputy confronted the shooter, who was then taken into custody.
Were there any warning signs before the shooting?
Yes, the suspect was previously interviewed by law enforcement for online threats.