WINDER, Ga. — A tragic incident occurred at Apalachee High School near Atlanta when a 14-year-old student, previously interviewed by police related to online threats, opened fire on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuring nine. The student has been charged with murder following the shooting.
The victims include two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both aged 14, as well as two teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, aged 39 and 53, respectively. The shooting left at least nine others—eight students and one teacher—with injuries, although all are expected to survive, as stated by Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
The shooter, who was taken into custody shortly after the incident, had previously raised concerns when the FBI received anonymous tips regarding a potential school shooting in May 2023. Although law enforcement did not have sufficient evidence for an arrest at that time, he was interviewed alongside his family.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene where the gunman, armed with an assault-style rifle, fired after classmates refused to let him back into the classroom. Eyewitnesses reported multiple gunshots and students scrambling to find safety. Two school resource officers apprehended the shooter shortly after the first reports of gunfire.
Local authorities are investigating how the teenager obtained the firearm used in the shooting and managed to bring it onto school grounds. This incident adds to the growing list of school shootings in the U.S., sparking renewed debates on gun control and the safety of students in educational environments.
A vigil was held on Wednesday evening at Jug Tavern Park in downtown Winder, where community members gathered to mourn and support each other in the wake of the tragedy. As the community reels from this incident, discussions surrounding school safety and prevention measures are expected to intensify.
