The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (“GBI”) has confirmed that at least four people were killed, and nine hospitalized after a shooting at a Georgia high school. A post on X from the GBI noted that a suspect is in custody.
The Wednesday morning shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, located in Barrow County roughly 50 miles east of the state’s capital in Atlanta, saw multiple of law enforcement agencies respond before 10:30 a.m. local time. The Georgia high school was under lockdown until a little before 11:30 a.m., when the site was cleared and students released to families.
CNN reported that the suspect in the fatal mass shooting has been identified as Colt Gray. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said at an afternoon news conference that Gray is a student at the school, and will be charged with murder and handled as an adult as he moves through the criminal justice system.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said the shooting was reported at 10:23 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School, with the school put on lockdown in the aftermath of the shooting. Two teachers and two students were killed, authorities said, with nine other victims were taken to hospitals with injuries.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a post on X he has “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.”
President Joe Biden said in a statement shared by the White House Wednesday afternoon that he is “mourning the deaths” of those killed in the shooting and that he is “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.”
At a separate news conference on Wednesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was “devastated for the families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. We are still gathering information, but the FBI and ATF are on the scene working with state, local and federal partners. The Justice Department stands ready to provide any resources or support that the Winder community needs in the days ahead.”
Winder, GA is located about 50 miles outside Atlanta. Schools in Barrow County will be closed the rest of the week.
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