GBI: 14-year-old shooter in custody, 2 students, 2 teachers dead, 9 taken to hospitals injured, police & FBI investigating Apalachee High School shooting in Barrow Co.
WINDER, Ga. – Police are responding to a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow county in Winder, Georgia, near Atlanta.
A sheriff has confirmed one suspect is in custody, with several victims reported injured, though their conditions are unknown.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI): “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.”
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office said earlier that a suspect was in custody after “multiple casualties” were reported in a shooting at the school.
Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith said an “evil thing” at the school happened at the school in terms of the shooting.
In a late afternoon press conference, the sheriff and the GBI confirmed the shooter was identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray.
The teen was a student at Apalachee High School and has been charged with murder, and he will be tried as an adult, the GBI said.
The deceased victims have been identified as two students and two teachers.
The school was initially placed on hard lockdown, but students have since been cleared to leave, and parents have been notified for pickup.
A local hospital is treating patients with gunshot wounds.
One victim was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.
The FBI is assisting local law enforcement.
Governor Brian Kemp has directed resources to support the response.
“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,” said Governor Kemp.
President Biden also issued a statement expressing his condolences.
”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.”
State School Superintendent Richard Woods responded:
“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.”
We at CBS 44 News South Georgia offer our sincerest condolences to the lives lost in this tragedy.
This is a developing story. Stay with CBS 44 South Georgia for more updates as information becomes available.
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