On September 4, a shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA, leaving four dead and nine injured. Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school, was identified as the perpetrator, and was brought into custody after surrendering to a school resource police officer. Gray orchestrated the murder of Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, at a news conference held later that day, confirmed while there was no known motive of Gray’s, the injured were recovering well. “My heart hurts for these kids,” he said. “My heart hurts for our community.” Several students were traumatized by the event, including Marques Coleman, who said “[The shooting] just keeps replaying in the back of my head.” Fellow student Camille Nelms, whose classroom was entered by Gray, also was disturbed from the event. “I was crying,” she said. “I didn’t want to die that way.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sympathies in an evening news conference that day, saying “This is everybody’s worst nightmare. …These are our neighbors. These are our friends. And this community is hurting today.” President Joe Biden also offered a statement, expressing his frustration at gun violence. “Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of read and right. We cannot continue to accept this as normal.”
No motivation has been revealed for Gray’s actions, however, he is expected to be charged with murder and tried as an adult.