BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's Note: This story is no longer being updated. For the latest updates, click here.
Four people are dead, nine others are hospitalized, and a teen suspect is in custody after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County on Wednesday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investiagtion.
The GBI said at 10:20 a.m., the Barrow County Sheriff's Office received alerts about reports of an "active shooter."
"Reports that the suspect has been ‘neutralized’ are inaccurate," the GBI added. "Reports of additional shootings at nearby schools are false."
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, the GBI said two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting.
The victims were identified by the GBI as the following:
- Teacher Richard Aspinwall, 39
- Teacher Christina Irimie, 53
- Student Mason Schermerhorn, 14
- Student Christian Angulo, 14
The GBI also identified the accused shooter as 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is a student at Apalachee High School. Gray will be charged with murder and be tried as an adult, according to the GBI.
"Within minutes, law enforcement was on scene, as well as two resource officers assigned to the school, who immediately encountered the subject (Gray) within just minutes of this report going out," a spokesperson for the GBI said.
Gray immediately surrendered to the officers without incident, the GBI added.
Scroll below for a recap of our coverage.
The high school is located in Winder, Georgia, off Haymon Morris Road-- about 45 miles from Atlanta.
Apalachee High School shooting coverage:
Apalachee High School shooting | Recap
11:36 p.m. | 11Alive's Investigative Reporter Zach Merchant gave information about those hospitalized after the shooting. There were nine injured, including eight students and one teacher. Three of the victims had been taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, but a spokesperson said that two have now been treated and released. The third person is now in Gainesville and is in stable condition. Authorities said that those who were injured are expected to recover.
11:33 p.m. | 11Alive's Angelina Salcedo was at a vigil where the community came together, mourning the lives of those lost in the shooting.
11:25 p.m. | 11Alive's Joe Ripley provides information about the teachers and students killed during the Apalachee High School shooting.
11 p.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn provides an update about the suspect and how he had been investigated back in 2023 for online threats. A neighbor also recounted seeing the suspect the morning of the shooting.
9:00 p.m. | Gov. Brian Kemp and the GBI gave an update on the school shooting. This is the last update for the evening. There is no evidence to report that there was any other shooter but the GBI is following up on any leads to see if there are any associates, the GBI said. They said there were no other schools being targeted at this time.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, two of the victims who died were students, and the other two were teachers. Their names are:
- Teacher Richard Aspinwall, 39
- Teacher Christina Irimie, 53
- Student Mason Schermerhorn, 14
- Student Christian Angulo, 14
8:40 p.m. | The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the FBI said that the shooting suspect had been investigated back in 2023 for online threats to commit a school shooting. The time and location had been unknown.
7:41 p.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn is outside Gray's home, where ATF agents are investigating.
7:33 p.m. | The GBI said it will hold another press conference at 9 p.m. You can watch the press conference above and on 11Alive's YouTube channel.
7:30 p.m. | The flag at Apalachee High School was lowered to half-staff.
7:15 p.m. | 11Alive's Angelina Salcedo is at a vigil at Jug Tavern Park in Winder, Georgia, where the community is gathering and praying.
6:47 p.m. | 11Alive's Kaitlyn Ross is hearing more from family members, friends and loved ones about the victims who were killed in the shooting. The two teachers reportedly died while protecting their students. The two students who died in the shooting were in the same class as Gray and knew him, according to family members of the students who were in that classroom.
11Alive is waiting to identify the students until we hear more from police. We're hearing from students' family members that the parents of the two students who were killed were frantically looking for them.
6:40 p.m. | Apalachee High School student Lyela Sayarath, 16, spoke with CNN about the moments the gunfire began.
6:35 p.m. | The Barrow County School District said classes will be canceled for the rest of the week. However, grief counseling will be available on Thursday for students, teachers, and staff at its central office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6:15 p.m. | Reactions to the high school shooting continue to pour in from across the nation. 11Alive's Grace King has the latest:
6 p.m. | 11Alive's Erica Murphy is outside of Grady Hospital, where one of the victims was airlifted to be treated for their injuries. Officials have not yet provided an update on that person's condition.
5:45 p.m. | 11Alive's Molly Oak and 11Alive's Doug Richards spoke to Apalachee High School students about their experiences during the shooting.
"I thought I was gonna die," said Zoe Gray, a student at Apalachee High School. "It sounded so close -- I'm sure it was because it was right near. I don't know exactly which door, but you hear 'bang, bang' kind of like they're trying to get in a door. It wasn't our door, but I'm sitting right by the door, and so it sounds like they're trying to get in -- but I don't know if it's shots or they're just trying to get in."
5:35 p.m. | 11Alive's Zach Merchant is outside the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where three people are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
He also spoke with two 18-year-olds, Kennan and Ashton Hopkins, who graduated from Winder-Barrow High last year and now work across the street from the hospital. They saw first responders rushing to the high school earlier in the day.
5 p.m. | The Barrow County sheriff described when school resource officers encountered Gray.
4:35 p.m. | In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, the GBI said two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting. The accused shooter has been identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is a student at Apalachee High School, according to the GBI.
The GBI said at 10:20 a.m., the Barrow County Sheriff's Office received alerts about reports of an "active shooter."
"Within minutes, law enforcement was on scene, as well as two resource officers assigned to the school, who immediately encountered the subject (Gray) within just minutes of this report going out," a spokesperson for the GBI said.
Gray immediately surrendered to the officers without incident, the GBI added.
Re-watch the full press conference below:
4:22 p.m. | Barrow County Schools said classes have been canceled for all schools district-wide for the rest of the week.
4:15 p.m. | Former DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander provided insight on how authorities investigate school shootings.
"This is a sad day for that community, for the state of Georgia, and for the entire country," Alexander added.
4 p.m. | The Barrow County Sheriff's Office will provide another update shortly. The GBI said the news conference will be at 4:30 p.m.
3:54 p.m. | Donald Trump released the following statement about the shooting:
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.
3:47 p.m. | Students are gathering for prayer at Apalachee High School on the football field after the shooting.
3:37 p.m. | Northeast Georgia Health System officials said they are now treating three Apalachee High School shooting victims. According to officials, two people are being treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, and another is being treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, a Level One Trauma Center.
11Alive confirmed earlier in the day that there was also a person being treated at Grady Hospital.
3:36 p.m. | Camille, a student at Apalachee High School, said she's traumatized after the shooting. "I didn't want to die that way," she said.
3:15 p.m. | GBI agents and a helicopter arrived at Grady Hospital after the shooting.
3:09 p.m. | Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation and spoke about gun violence after the shooting. Watch her full address below:
3:07 p.m. | Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released the following statement about the shooting:
Marty, the girls, and I are heartbroken by today’s tragedy at Apalachee High School. This is a day every parent dreads, and Georgians everywhere will hug their children tighter this evening because of this painful event.
We continue to work closely with local, state, and federal partners to make any and all resources available to help this community on this incredibly difficult day and in the days to come.
2:37 p.m. | The GBI said, "Reports of additional shootings at nearby schools are false."
2:31 p.m. | A community vigil is being held at 7 p.m. at Jug Tavern Park at 113 E. Athens St. in Winder, Georgia.
2:21 p.m. | President Joe Biden released the following statement on the shooting:
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. 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.
We 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.
Ending this gun violence epidemic is personal to me. It’s why I signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the most meaningful gun safety bill in decades – and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions. I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris. We’ve made significant progress, but this crisis requires even more.
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.
2:13 p.m. | The GBI released the latest update:
Four dead. An additional nine taken to various hospitals with injuries. Suspect in custody and alive. Reports that the suspect has been ‘neutralized’ are inaccurate.
2:07 p.m. | The White House held a briefing on the shooting. Watch it below:
2 p.m. | 11Alive's Molly Oak is at the high school, where a woman described what a student told her after just being a classroom away from where the shooting occurred inside the high school.
1:49 p.m. | Vice President Kamala Harris said she's been briefed on the shooting.
Prior to departing Joint Base Andrews, Vice President Harris was briefed on the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. She will receive regular updates from her staff as additional information becomes available. The Biden-Harris administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials.
1:35 p.m. | CNN is reporting at least four people are dead and approximately 30 people are injured. CNN also reports that the suspect in custody is "of student age." At this time, it's unclear if that person attended Apalachee High School.
1:27 p.m. | 11Alive crews saw heavy police activity at the scene, as parents lined up to pick up their kids.
1:12 p.m. | The Barrow County Sheriff's Office held an afternoon press conference about the shooting. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office said a call about a reported "active shooter" came in around 9:30 a.m. The sheriff's office reported casualties and injuries, but officials did not provide an update about their conditions. Another press conference will be held at 4 p.m.
You can re-watch the press conference below:
1 p.m. | Winder Police said it's assisting the Barrow County Sheriff's Office:
Officer presence has been established at all Barrow County Schools. The school system has notified parents of student release plans. Schools will begin to transition from hard lockdowns to soft and will work to release students on time as this transition occurs. Buses will run as close to normal schedules as possible. The school asks that all parents choosing to pick up their children in person to please be patient as the traffic will be heavy. AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK ROADWAYS, SIDEWALKS, BUS AND CAR LANES AT SCHOOL SITES. Emergency vehicles are still needing to get in and out of the various schools and especially at Apalachee HS.
12:59 p.m. | Northeast Georgia Medical Center officials said one patient has been transported to their Barrow facility and another is en route to their facility in Gainesville.
12:54 p.m. | State School Superintendent Richard Woods released the following statement:
I am devastated by the news of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School today. My heart and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected and the entire Barrow County community. This is an unimaginable loss for Barrow and for our entire educational community across the state.
The Georgia Department of Education is actively monitoring the situation in Barrow County and will continue to respond as additional information is available. Our School Safety team is in contact with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and with Barrow County Schools, and our entire agency stands ready to assist in any way possible.
I ask that all Georgians keep the community of Apalachee High School and, first and foremost, the families of those lost, in your thoughts. I know we will come together as a state to support the Barrow County community as they face this tragic loss.
12:44 p.m. | Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued the following statement:
My prayers are with the high school students, staff and families affected by the senseless act of violence in Winder, Georgia. I have been in contact with Chief Schierbaum, and the Atlanta Police Department has been working with the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department to bolster patrols around our schools for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution. APD has also been on standby in case law enforcement agencies need assistance with this incident. May God comfort the victims and their loved ones in the difficult days ahead.
12:36 p.m. | A woman described the moments her grandson told her about the shooting at Apalachee High. She said the principal told him to "run to the band room, don't look back, keep running."
12:17 p.m. | NBC News is reporting two people were killed, and four others were injured.
12:07 p.m. | GBI said it's also responding to the shooting:
GBI has responded to a shooting @ Apalachee H.S. in Barrow Co. We have agents on site assisting local, state, & federal law enforcement w/ the investigation. One suspect in custody. We urge anyone near the area to stay clear while authorities investigate. More info to follow.
11:53 a.m. | FBI Atlanta said it's aware of the situation and is assisting.
11:51 a.m. | Gov. Kemp released the following statement:
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.
We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.
11:33 a.m. | Students were being released to parents and guardians, the school district told 11Alive.
10:23 a.m. | A release from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office said officers from multiple agencies responded at 10:23 a.m. "in reference to a reported active shooting." Apalachee High School was placed on a hard lockdown.
11Alive SkyTracker flew over the high school; check out aerials from the scene below:
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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