4 folks – two college students and two academics – are lifeless and 9 extra have been rushed to the hospital after a teenage gunman opened fireplace inside a Georgia highschool, authorities say.
“I used to be crying, I didn’t wish to die that means,” scholar Camille Nelms advised native outlet WXIA. “I don’t wish to meet the Lord that means.”
Gunfire erupted at Apalachee Excessive College, 50 miles exterior of Atlanta, round 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The folks killed haven’t been recognized, however police named the suspect as 14-year-old Colt Grey, who’s a scholar on the college. He’s alive and in custody after surrendering to responding officers. He can be charged with homicide and tried as an grownup, officers mentioned.
The FBI revealed on Wednesday night time that it investigated the suspect for allegedly making on-line threats to hold out a college capturing in Might 2023.
The Bureau’s Atlanta workplace put out a press release confirming an investigation was carried out after pictures of weapons have been posted on-line.
The suspect, who was then 13, was discovered by Jackson County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies and interviewed, in line with the FBI.
His father advised investigators that the household had looking weapons in the home however that {the teenager} didn’t have “unsupervised entry” to them.
The boy denied that he had made the threats and the FBI says that there was “no possible trigger” to arrest him or take any additional authorized motion.
“I by no means imagined that I might be chatting with the media in my profession over one thing that occurred right now — the pure evil occurred right here right now,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith mentioned whereas standing exterior the highschool.
“Hate is not going to prevail,” he added.
The varsity obtained a cellphone risk earlier within the day, legislation enforcement officers advised CNN. The caller warned that there can be shootings at 5 faculties and that Apalachee can be the primary. There have been no different shootings at space faculties.
College students recounted the harrowing moments once they heard gunshots of their hallways, only one month after getting back from summer season break.
One scholar advised WSB-TV that her trainer was shot whereas within the doorway of their classroom. She then labored with fellow college students to tug them again into the room and barricade the door, the native outlet reported.
Sergio Caldera, a 17-year-old senior on the college, advised ABC Information he was in chemistry class when gunshots started.
“My trainer goes and opens the door to see what’s occurring,” Caldera mentioned. “One other trainer comes working in and tells her to shut the door as a result of there’s an lively shooter.”
Caldera mentioned somebody banged on their classroom door and shouted “open up” a number of instances. Afterward, he heard extra gunfire and screaming.
D’Anthony Kanzig mentioned he and his fellow college students tried to be as quiet as doable because the capturing occurred.
“I used to be in school and I simply noticed ‘onerous lockdown’ on my display and then you definitely simply hear the gunshots and everybody acquired down,” he advised WXIA.
Kanzig mentioned college students hid beneath desks and that some have been laughing as a result of they thought it was only a drill. Others have been crying.
“Children have been praying, protecting it as quiet as doable,” he mentioned.
Native and federal leaders have additionally spoken out concerning the tragedy.
“Jill and I are mourning the deaths of these whose lives have been lower brief as a consequence of extra mindless gun violence and pondering of all the survivors whose lives are endlessly modified,” President Joe Biden mentioned in a press release.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has “directed all accessible state sources” to the varsity.
“We are going to proceed to work with native, state, and federal companions as we collect data and additional reply to this case,” Kemp mentioned.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris known as the incident “one other mindless tragedy.”
“It’s mindless, it’s — we’ve acquired to cease it, and we have now to finish this epidemic of gun violence in our nation as soon as and for all,” Harris mentioned at a marketing campaign occasion. “You realize it doesn’t should be this fashion. It doesn’t should be this fashion, so we are going to proceed, after all, to ship our prayers and I assumed to households and all those that have been affected.
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz additionally spoke on the incident whereas at a marketing campaign occasion in Pennsylvania.
“Earlier than we get began, our workforce simply briefed me on this, we have now a college capturing occurring in Georgia at the moment,” Walz mentioned. “We’re on it, and the White Home has been briefed on it.”
“That is tragic. We don’t know any of the small print on it but, however it’s a scenario that’s all too frequent and and our hearts are on the market proper now…Our work must be to forestall these sooner or later as we all know,” he continued. “I do know it’s a little bit little bit of a heavy coronary heart for all.”
Former president Donald Trump posted concerning the capturing on Fact Social.
“Our hearts are with the victims and family members affected by the tragic occasion in Winder, GA,” Trump wrote. “These cherished kids have been taken from us far too quickly by a sick and deranged monster.”