ATLANTA – Tragedy struck Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday when 14-year-old Colt Gray opened fire, killing two students and two teachers while injuring nine others. The suspect, who had been previously interviewed by law enforcement over online threats, was quickly apprehended by deputies after the attack. Gray will be tried as an adult, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The victims included two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, as well as teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. Nine others were injured but are expected to recover.
The shooter had been flagged by the FBI in 2023 for making threats about a school shooting, but there was insufficient evidence at the time to press charges. The incident has reignited the national debate on gun control, with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for urgent legislative action to curb gun violence.
A prayer vigil was held in Winder on Wednesday night, where the community gathered to honor the victims. This tragic event marks the first planned school shooting of the new academic year, adding to the ongoing crisis of gun violence in the U.S. schools.