At least four people are dead and a 14-year-old boy is in custody after opening fire at a high school in north central Georgia and putting the building on lockdown, authorities said
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that four people died at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia — approximately 40 miles northeast of Atlanta – and nine others were taken to various hospitals with gunshot wounds. The suspect is alive and in custody.
“At approximately 10:23 a.m. officers from multiple law enforcement agencies and Fire/EMS personnel were dispatched to the high school in reference to a reported active shooting,” the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
GBI Director Chris Hosey told reporters Wednesday afternoon that two students and two teachers were confirmed dead. Hosey also identified the shooter as 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school.
Gray] has been taken into custody,” Hosey said. “He will be charged with murder, and he will be tried as an adult and handled as an adult.”
Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith addressed reporters earlier on Wednesday, providing limited details. Smith said he first received a call of an active shooter at 9:30 a.m. He confirmed that there were “multiple injuries.
The sheriff said law enforcement officials were conducting a “very, very fluid investigation” and asked for patience from the media to let them gather the facts. He predicted that it will take “multiple days” to figure out what happened and how.
Smith confirmed at the time that a suspect was in custody, and said they were “in the process” of reuniting students with their parents.
Georgia authorities had not released the identities of the deceased and wounded victims of the Apalachee High School shooting when Smith spoke, but one woman came forward to say her father was shot.
In a public Facebook post, a woman named Katie Phenix explained that her father David Phenix had been shot at the school.
“We are so thankful for all the texts, calls, and messages about my dad, David Phenix,” the daughter wrote. “There was a shooting this morning at Apalachee High School and my dad was shot in the foot and in the hip, shattering his hip bone.
“He arrived to the hospital alert and awake. He just got out of surgery and is stable,” she added. “We will update as we hear new information. We are so, so lucky, but please keep our family as well as the AHS family in your prayers.”
He did not take any questions, but said he hoped to provide more information later in the afternoon.
President Biden issued a statement and condemned the violence at the high school.
“Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed. 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,” Biden wrote.
Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal,” Biden continued.
Biden added that they are closely coordinating with officials at the federal, state and local level, and are grateful for the first responders who brought the suspect into custody and prevented further loss of life.
Biden continued his statement by saying that “after decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough is enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.
We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart,” Biden said.
Former President Donald Trump also issued a statement about the shooting on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” and shared his grief for all those involved in today’s events.
“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,” Trump wrote
Footage from the scene showed first responders rendering aid to individuals outside the school, as well as dozens of police officers surrounding the perimeter. The FBI has also acknowledged they are aware of the unfolding situation.
I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state,” said Gov. Brian Kemp
We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation,” the governor added.
Text messages from a student to his mother also revealed the horror happening inside the high school.
“School shooting rn. i’m scared. pls, i’m not joking,” the text messages posted by Erin Clark read.
The mother then responds to her son and says she is leaving work.
“i love you,” the student tells his mom.
She says it back and asks where he is.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed during a separate press conference Wednesday afternoon that the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was on the scene gathering information about the incident
“I’m devastated for the families that have been affected by this terrible tragedy,” Garland said.
Vice President Kamala Harris also issued a statement during a press conference acknowledging the shooting and violence that took place.
“It’s just outrageous that every day in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive,” Harris said.
Our hearts are with all the students of the teachers and their families, of course. And we are grateful to the first responders and the law enforcement that were on the scene,” Harris continued.