Shooting at Apalachee High School: Police in Georgia confirm four dead and suspect in custody

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed Wednesday afternoon that four people had died and nine others had been injured and taken to hospitals. During a press conference hours later, authorities announced that the suspect was Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school. Gray is being tried as an adult for murder. Two of those killed were students, two were teachers.

“Hate will not prevail in this county,” said Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith. “Love will prevail over what happened today.”

Update: Four dead. Another nine taken to various hospitals with injuries. Suspect in custody and alive. Reports that the suspect was “neutralized” are inaccurate.

— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) 4 September 2024

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement earlier in the day that it dispatched multiple law enforcement officers to the school at 10:23 a.m. to respond to a reported shooting. Police and emergency responders are still on the scene.

At a press conference early Wednesday afternoon, police officials would not confirm any further details other than to say that multiple agencies are investigating the shooting and the situation remains “fluctuating.”

“I appreciate your patience with us. Again, it is very active and constantly evolving. New information is being discovered every minute,” Smith said, stressing that it will take “several days” to fully understand the shooting.

When asked directly about the numerous reports of deaths resulting from the shooting, Smith did not answer, saying only that there were “several injuries.”

Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) has directed “all available state resources” to Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, after an “incident” occurred there.

We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners as we gather information and continue to respond to this situation. (2/2)

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) 4 September 2024

“I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and I 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,” Kemp said. “We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners as we gather information and continue to respond to this situation.”

Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, who represents the district where the school is located, said he has spoken with Smith about ways to support relief efforts and that he is praying for the students.

Leigh Ann and I are praying for the victims, their families, and all the students at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.

We thank law enforcement for their quick response to secure the school and arrest the shooter.

I spoke to Sheriff Smith and …

— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) 4 September 2024

“Leigh Ann and I are praying for the victims, their families, and all the students at Apalachee High School in Barrow County,” Collins said on X. “We thank law enforcement for their quick action to secure the school and take the shooter into custody. I have spoken with Sheriff Smith and told him that my team and I are available to assist in any way necessary. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said schools in the city would increase patrols for the rest of the day and Atlanta police were on standby in case officers in Winder needed assistance responding to the shooting.

“My prayers are with the high school students, staff and families affected by the senseless act of violence in Winder, Georgia,” Dickens said in a statement Wednesday. “I have been in contact with Chief Schierbaum, and the Atlanta Police Department has worked with the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department to increase patrols around our schools for the remainder of the day out of an abundance of caution.”

“APD is also on standby should law enforcement need assistance with this incident,” he added. “May God comfort the victims and their families in the difficult days ahead.”

Agents from the FBI’s Atlanta Division are “on the scene coordinating and assisting local law enforcement,” officials said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has also become aware of the shooting.

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In a statement to X on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said he and the First Lady “mourn the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by further senseless gun violence and are thinking of all the survivors in Winder, Georgia, whose lives were forever changed.”

“Students across the country are learning to duck and hide instead of learning to read and write. We can no longer accept this as normal,” he continued.