A tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning, left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured after a 14-year-old gunman opened fire.
The suspect, identified as Colt Gray, a student at the school, was quickly apprehended by a school resource officer after the attack.
The shooting began around 10:20 a.m., sending students into a panic as they sought cover in locked-down classrooms. Among the injured was a math teacher who suffered a shattered hip, and at least two victims were airlifted to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
Gray is expected to be charged with murder as an adult, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.
The horrifying incident has left the community in shock, with students recounting the terrifying moments during the attack.
Ethan Clark, a senior at the school, texted his mother in fear during the shooting, telling her, “I’m scared … I’m not joking.” His mother, Erin Clark, rushed to the school, finding Ethan safe among his evacuated classmates.
Other students described the chaos inside the school. Marques Coleman, 14, was in one of the classrooms where the shooter opened fire, recalling how the room filled with smoke and how he saw his wounded friends on the ground. Seventeen-year-old Sergio Caldera, a senior, recounted hearing gunshots and screams as his class huddled together in fear.
Sophomore Jacob King, who had fallen asleep in class after morning practice, was jolted by the sound of gunfire. He later saw officers helping what appeared to be a wounded student as they were evacuated.
Among the injured was special-ed math teacher David Phenix, who sustained gunshot wounds to his foot and hip. His daughter, Katie Phenix, shared that her father was stable after surgery.
Law enforcement responded swiftly, securing the scene and beginning to release students by 11:30 a.m. The incident drew a massive police presence, with dozens of vehicles from multiple agencies surrounding the high school.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his concern, directing state resources to respond and urging prayers for those affected. President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation, and Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the Justice Department was ready to assist with the investigation.
As the investigation continues, authorities have asked for patience as they work to uncover the details behind this devastating event. As a precaution, the Barrow County School District placed other schools in the area on a “soft lockdown,” urging parents not to visit the schools until the situation was fully resolved.
