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2024 Apalachee High School shooting

Coordinates: 33°56′54″N 83°47′9″W / 33.94833°N 83.78583°W / 33.94833; -83.78583
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Apalachee High School shooting
People outside the school in the immediate aftermath of the shooting
Map
Location of Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia
LocationApalachee High School
Barrow County, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates33°56′54″N 83°47′9″W / 33.94833°N 83.78583°W / 33.94833; -83.78583
DateSeptember 4, 2024
c. 10:20 – 10:26 a.m.[1] (EDT)
Attack type
School shooting, mass shooting, mass murder
WeaponsAR-15–style rifle
Deaths4
Injured9 (7 by gunfire)
MotiveUnder Investigation
Accused
  • Colt Gray
  • Colin Gray (Colt's father)
ChargesColt:
Felony murder (4 counts)

Colin:

On September 4, 2024, a mass shooting occurred at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia, United States. Two students and two teachers were killed, while nine other people were injured.[2] A suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, was taken into custody and charged with four counts of felony murder.[3] His father, Colin Gray, was also charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in relation to the shooting, having bought his son the gun allegedly used in the shooting.[4] The shooting is the deadliest school shooting in the history of Georgia.[5]

Background

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Main article: Apalachee High School

Apalachee High School is a public high school located in Barrow County, Georgia, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Atlanta. It is part of the Barrow County School District and has about 1,900 students.[6] Georgia schools are required to complete at least one active shooter drill by October 1, each academic year.[7]

A week before the shooting, all teachers at the school were issued a form of ID called Centegix, which includes a panic button for any potential active situation in the school. The technology also includes a "dynamic digital mapping with real-time locating capabilities".[8] Classroom doors at the school lock automatically once shut and require opening from inside if the person entering does not have a key.[7]

Shooting

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Before the shooting, a call from an unknown source was placed to Apalachee High School stating that five schools would be targeted and that Apalachee would be the first.[9] A second call, from Gray's mother, allegedly warned of an "extreme emergency" and requested administrators locate Gray, but they were unable to do so.[10]

According to a 14-year-old student, Colt Gray exited his algebra classroom around 9:45 a.m. and the door was locked automatically behind him. When Gray knocked on the door, the student went to open it, looked through the glass panel in the door and saw a gun. When asked by the teacher to open the door, the student replied, "No, he has a gun." After being denied reentry into the classroom, the shooter turned and fired 10 to 15 rounds towards a nearby classroom.[8][11] Shortly after the shots were fired, multiple staff members pushed the panic buttons on their IDs, which triggered a lockdown and alerted authorities, including three school resource officers, about the shooting.[12]

One student told reporters that he had heard about 10 shots, not believing the shooting to be real until he heard an officer yelling at someone to put down their gun. Another recounted that after hearing the gunshots, the class barricaded the door with objects before hiding.[13] One student stated that their teacher attempted to investigate the noises before being directed to lock the door, following reports of an active shooter. Subsequently, they heard someone pounding on the door shouting "Open up!" multiple times before gunshots and screams.[14]

One of the teachers killed reportedly left his classroom after hearing a commotion and was shot in the chest. The students in his classroom, pulled him back into the classroom and attempted to save his life by using their own shirts to stop the bleeding while others barricaded the door with desks and chairs. One of the wounded students was able to get up and quickly shut his classroom's door, preventing Gray from entering, before he realized he was wounded.[15][16]

The school was placed in lockdown at around 10:20 a.m.[17] and law enforcement responded at around 10:23 a.m.[18] The lockdown software caused all smartboards in the school to flash the words "Hard Lockdown" in large red letters. The ambiguous wording of this message made some students think it was part of a drill.[7] The Georgia Bureau of Investigation director said that the sheriff's office received calls of an active shooter at the school at around 10:20 a.m. local time, with responders arriving within minutes. The school resource officers engaged the suspect within minutes and he surrendered to them.[14]

Students were evacuated from the building to the school's football field, after it had been deemed safe.[14] Students later recounted seeing abandoned book bags, phones, and shoes on the floor while they were being evacuated, while others recounted seeing police attempting to block a body on the ground, a gun and blood.[7] Governor Brian Kemp directed all available state resources to assist at the scene of the shooting.[19]

Victims

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Four people were killed: students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both aged 14; math teacher Cristina Irimie (aged 53); and math teacher and assistant football coach Richard Aspinwall (39).[20][21] Nine people (one teacher and eight students) were injured in the shooting, including seven who were shot.[22][23] The wounded were treated at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.[2][24] Several patients were admitted with panic attacks.[6]

Accused

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Colt Gray, a 14-year-old freshman student at the school, was arrested.[25][26] He was charged with four counts of felony murder.[26] Prosecutors plan to try Gray as an adult.[26] He is accused of using a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle in the shooting.[26]

Gray's father Colin Gray, age 54, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. He allegedly purchased the firearm used in the shooting as a Christmas gift for his son.[27][28]

In May 2023, FBI agents from the Atlanta field office, as well as local officers from Jackson County Sheriff's Office, visited Gray and his family to investigate school shooting threats posted online.[26] The visit was prompted by anonymous tips received by the FBI's National Threat Operations Center.[29] When questioned, then-13-year-old Colt Gray denied making the threats; Colin Gray acknowledged that he owned hunting guns but told investigators that his son did not have "unfettered access" to them.[26][29] In a statement issued after the September 2024 shooting, the FBI said, "At the time, there was no probable cause for an arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state or federal levels."[29]

The 2023 FBI investigation linked a Discord account associated with an email address belonging to Colt Gray. The account's activity was traced to locations in Fort Valley and Statesboro, Georgia, and possibly Buffalo, New York. The Discord username was written in Russian and translated as "Lanza," allegedly referencing Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. However, Colt Gray's father, Colin Gray, stated that his son does not speak or understand Russian. During questioning in May 2023, both Colt and his father denied any knowledge of the email. Colt also mentioned he had deleted his Discord account months earlier due to hacking concerns. After investigating, local authorities reported that the claim connecting the Discord account to either Colin or Colt Gray could not be substantiated.[30][31]

In August 2024, Gray's maternal aunt and grandmother communicated to others that Gray was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, "shouldn’t have a gun," and was due to start therapy after false starts. It is not currently known if Gray attended his first therapy session. On the morning of the shooting, Gray's mother allegedly called the school warning of an "extreme emergency" and told administrators to find her son immediately. The administrator allegedly confused Gray with another student and was unable to locate either of them. The shooting began several minutes later.[10]

Investigation

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The U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene.[2] The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Atlanta office confirmed that its agents were on scene.[2] The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also involved in the investigation.[2]

Aftermath

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On September 6, Winder, Georgia hosted a memorial for the victims of the shooting with multiple politicians and about 1,000 people in attendance.[32] A memorial was created outside the school with students, their parents and members of the community leaving items such as flowers, balloons and notes. The school's high school football team was scheduled to play at another area school on September 6, but the game was canceled and a prayer vigil scheduled in its place.[33]

GoFundMe campaigns were started for the victims of the shootings to help cover costs associated with the shooting.[34] Other fundraisers and memorial services were set up shortly after the shooting by local organizations and restaurants.[35]

Response

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Political reaction

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The White House issued a statement confirming that President Joe Biden was briefed by Liz Sherwood-Randall, the Homeland Security Advisor, on the shooting and that his administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as they receive more information.[2] Vice President Kamala Harris thanked first responders and stated that it "doesn't have to be this way".[36] Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his devastation with regards to the shooting and to anyone affected by it.[37] White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented on the shooting during the afternoon press briefing, discussing the concern for gun control in the form of universal background checks and other programs.[14]

Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp tweeted his condolences and asked for all Georgians to join in praying for the safety of students in classrooms. Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, offered his thoughts and prayers to those affected as well as support to responding law enforcement.[14] Georgia U.S. Representative Mike Collins, whose congressional district includes the school, issued a statement offering prayers for the victims and their families.[37] Collins' response was met with criticism from gun control advocates, with some accusing Collins of endorsing gun violence, referencing a campaign ad in which he claimed Donald Trump had won the 2020 election while holding and firing an AR-15–style rifle.[38]

Marjorie Taylor Greene, another U.S. Representative from Georgia, also issued a statement on Twitter offering support to the victims and families. Like Collins, Greene had faced criticism for campaign ads involving guns, as well as promoting baseless statements about previous shootings, such as the 2018 Parkland high school shooting, which she falsely claimed was a false flag act to promote anti-gun laws.[39]

Former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences via a post on Truth Social. He stated, "Our hearts are with the victims and loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, GA. These cherished children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster."[40] Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance said that school shootings are an unfortunate "fact of life", that schools are soft targets, and that security, and not gun control, is needed.[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Amy, Jeff. "Investigators say teen smuggled assault rifle into Georgia school in backpack before shooting". AP News. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Chowdhury, Maureen; Hammond, Elise; Powell, Tori (September 4, 2024). "Live updates: Apalachee High School shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "Two students, two teachers killed at Apalachee High School, 14-year-old in custody". NBC News. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Matza, Max (September 5, 2024). "Father of suspect in Georgia school shooting arrested". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Keenan, Sean. "Here's the Latest on the Investigation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Czachor, Emily Mae (September 4, 2024). "4 dead, 9 hospitalized after shooting at high school in Georgia; suspect in custody". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d JEFF, AMY (September 6, 2024). "Inside the Georgia high school where a sleepy morning was pierced by gunfire". Alaska News Source. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Yan, Holly; Faheid, Dalia (September 5, 2024). "New details emerge about the 14-year-old suspect and victims in the deadliest school shooting this year". CNN. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Hammond, Elise (September 4, 2024). "At least 4 killed in Georgia high school shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Blaskey, Sarah; Armus, Teo (September 8, 2024). "Mother of Georgia suspect is said to have called school before shooting, warning of 'emergency'". Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Vera, Holly Yan, Adrienne Vogt, Elise Hammond, Amir (September 6, 2024). "September 6 Georgia school shooting news". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Meckler, Laura; Natanson, Hannah; Elwood, Karina (September 6, 2024). "Security alerts at Apalachee helped save lives, officials say". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Amy, Jeff (September 4, 2024). "4 dead, at least 9 injured in shooting at high school near Atlanta, authorities say". AP News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e Luscombe, Richard (September 4, 2024). "Georgia high school shooting leaves four people confirmed dead and nine injured". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Faheid, Dalia (September 7, 2024). "Georgia school shooting suspect expected to face more charges as accounts of students' heroism emerge". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Yan, Holly; Vogt, Adrienne; Hammond, Elise; Vera, Amir (September 6, 2024). "September 6 Georgia school shooting news". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Fishman, Taylor (September 4, 2024). "4 dead, 30 injured in Georgia high school shooting, suspect in custody: Sources". WJLA. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Lim, Clarissa-Jan (September 4, 2024). "At least 4 dead in Georgia high school shooting, suspect in custody". MSNBC.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Valencia, Nick; Nottingham, Shawn; Andone, Dakin; Boyette, Chris (September 4, 2024). "Casualties reported in shooting at Georgia high school, sheriff says. A suspect is in custody". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  20. ^ Lyden, Meleah (September 4, 2024). "Victims in Apalachee High School shooting identified – What we know". 11Alive.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Elassar, Dakin Andone, Alaa (September 5, 2024). "'He loved everyone.' A 14-year-old student is one of the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "GEORGIA SCHOOL SHOOTING: What we know about the victims". WSB-TV Atlanta. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Razek, Ashley R. Williams, Holly Yan, Mark Morales, Ryan Young, Isabel Rosales, Chelsea Bailey, Sara Smart, Jaide Timm-Garcia, Raja (September 6, 2024). "Georgia high school shooting suspect and his father make first court appearances, do not enter pleas". CNN. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Rosales, John Miller, Nick Valencia, Shawn Nottingham, Dakin Andone, Isabel (September 4, 2024). "Gunman believed to be a 14-year-old in Georgia school shooting that left at least 4 dead, source says". CNN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Czachor, Emily Mae (September 4, 2024). "4 dead, 9 hospitalized after shooting at high school in Georgia; 14-year-old suspect in custody". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Holly Bailey (September 4, 2024). "Georgia school shooting suspect and father appear in court for first time". Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  27. ^ Liddell, James (September 4, 2024). "Georgia school shooting latest: Suspect's father arrested after telling police he bought gun as gift for son". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "Suspected Ga. high school shooter will face more charges, DA says". WANF. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Max Matza (September 5, 2024). "US school shooting suspect, 14, questioned about threats last year". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "Georgia high school shooting suspect was previously interviewed after FBI received reports of online threats". CBS News. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  31. ^ Boburg, Shawn (September 7, 2024). "Discord messages leading to FBI tip of Georgia school shooting suspect released". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  32. ^ "Officials address large gathering at Apalachee High School memorial in Winder". Classic City News. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  33. ^ Shipman, Don (September 6, 2024). "Community vigils planned for Friday to remember Apalachee School shooting victims". Atlanta News First. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  34. ^ Thiessen, Mark (September 7, 2024). "What we know after a 14-year-old boy was charged with killing 4 people at his Georgia high school". AP News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  35. ^ "Apalachee High School shooting: Events and fundraisers". FOX 5 Atlanta. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  36. ^ "Georgia school shooting live updates: Four killed at Apalachee High School, suspect in custody". NBC News. September 4, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  37. ^ a b Fortinsky, Sarah (September 4, 2024). "Four dead in Georgia high school shooting". The Hill. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  38. ^ Bio, Demian (September 4, 2024). "Georgia Republican Mike Collins's gun-filled campaign ads resurface after offering prayers for victims of Appalachee school shooting". The Latin Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024. At least four people have been killed and roughly 30 injured in the school shooting
  39. ^ Kilander, Gustav (September 5, 2024). "'Save your fake prayers': Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed for response to Georgia mass shooting". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  40. ^ Staff, National Desk (September 5, 2024). "2 students, 2 teachers killed at Georgia high school; shooter was 14-year-old student, police say". WMTW. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  41. ^ Cooper, Jonathan J (September 6, 2024). "JD Vance says he laments that school shootings are a 'fact of life' and calls for better security". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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