ATLANTA: A 14-year-old student opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, killing two fellow students and two teachers, and injuring nine others. This marks the first mass school shooting of the new school year in the U.S.
The suspect, identified as Colt Gray, was arrested shortly after the incident. Authorities revealed that Gray had been questioned last year over online threats about a potential school shooting but was not charged at the time. He will be tried as an adult, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith stated that the gunman was carrying a semi-automatic rifle and surrendered immediately when confronted by school deputies. Investigators believe Gray acted alone, but no motive has been disclosed.
The victims were identified as two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. All nine injured are expected to recover.
The FBI confirmed that it had investigated online threats related to Gray in 2023, but no arrest was made at the time due to insufficient evidence.
This tragedy has reignited national debates on gun control. President Joe Biden expressed his condolences and called for “common-sense gun safety legislation.” Vice President Kamala Harris echoed these sentiments, calling the shooting a “senseless tragedy” and urging action to end the epidemic of gun violence.
Former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also offered their condolences, with Kemp emphasizing that the focus should be on mourning the victims rather than politics at this time.
Winder, a city of 18,000 residents, held a candlelight vigil in a local park to honor the victims, with the community coming together in grief and solidarity.
The U.S. has seen numerous school shootings in the past two decades, with the ongoing debate over gun laws and the Second Amendment continuing to divide the nation.