WINDER, Georgia ‒ Snip. Twist. Straighten.

“This kind of thing is often thought to happen far away,” commented Sherry Miller, who runs a local flower shop, as she tied a freshly made blue-and-gold ribbon bow and placed it on the table in front of her. “It’s hard to believe it could happen here.”

The ribbon bows, colored in honor of Apalachee High School, symbolize remembrance for those who tragically lost their lives, drawing attention and raising questions in both the local community and across the nation.

Authorities reported that a week ago, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, opened fire with a rifle, killing two math teachers and two classmates. The incident has shattered the community’s sense of security, leading to overwhelming feelings of sorrow and loss in the days that followed.

Many questions have surfaced, from why the shooter targeted a school where he had only been a student for a month to whether police effectively handled the numerous warnings they received concerning his threats about a potential school shooting. There are also serious concerns surrounding the actions of the boy’s parents, counselors, and other adults in his life.

“I can’t comprehend how something like this occurs. I suppose it reflects the times we’re living in,” said Miller, 68, as she cut ribbons with precision using her yellow-handled scissors, fashioning another bow.

While fear may be spreading across Barrow County, with a population of 90,000, a sense of hope and community remains strong.

Since the tragic event, Miller and her daughter Paige Stinchcomb have been making bows for neighbors, with all proceeds supporting the local community foundation. Their floral and gift shop’s door chime rings continually as customers and friends stop by to purchase the $10 bows.

Overwhelmed by demand, hundreds of customers have signed up to buy bows, leading to a week-long waiting list. However, Miller is running low on ribbon and will have to wait until the weekend for more supplies.

“Everyone wants to contribute to something positive. There’s far more good than bad in this world, and I believe people are trying to demonstrate that,” Stinchcomb, 39, shared as she unwound the sturdy ribbon from the spool.

Escalating Issues: Mother claims suspect is ‘not a monster’

Authorities have detained Colt Gray, 14, who is accused of shooting and killing students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, along with math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Additionally, eight other students and another teacher sustained injuries in the incident, investigators reported.

Authorities have also arrested Colt Gray’s father, Colin Gray, charging him with murder for allegedly enabling his son to access the gun. Neither Colt nor Colin Gray have publicly commented on the situation, nor have they responded to the charges against them, which could be expanded as a grand jury investigates the case.

Colt Gray is currently held at a regional juvenile detention center, while his father is in custody at the Barrow County Detention Center, situated about 5 miles from the high school. The shooting has incited numerous copycat threats across the country.

On Wednesday, Gray’s mother expressed her remorse to the community in an open letter, describing her son as “not a monster.”

Marcee Gray shared in a statement to CNN, “We are all living in a nightmare right now, and I can never forgive myself for what has transpired.” She did not comment on Colin Gray, whom she had previously referred to as an abusive husband in a LinkedIn post. The couple divorced several years prior.

Local residents noted they were unfamiliar with Colin Gray, though a few had recognized him driving in his Nissan pickup truck. The home where Colt and Colin Gray resided is a rental located on a rural road approximately 5 miles from the high school, and neighbors mentioned that Colin Gray had not lived there for long.

Following the shooting, numerous deputies, state investigators, and federal agents converged on their residence. According to neighbors, they interviewed Colin Gray while he was sitting on the tailgate of his truck before taking him into custody.

The Gray family had been local residents for many years,

Court documents and discussions reveal a family in distress.

Marcee Gray has a master’s degree and previously worked as a quality control engineer as well as a supervisor for a Winder steel distribution company in 2015.

However, she appears to have faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2019, she was sued for allegedly issuing a bounced check for $10,000, as indicated by court documents.

By 2023, she faced charges for possessing controlled substances like methamphetamine, fentanyl, and muscle relaxers. Additionally, she was accused of vandalizing Colin Gray’s company truck by scratching words into it, according to court records reviewed by YSL News.

During this period, she also mentioned on LinkedIn that she had relocated over 200 miles from Winder due to “constant domestic abuse” experienced at home.

A review of child support documents from three counties in the Atlanta area reveals that Colin Gray provided most of the financial support for their four children until early 2022. Court records from Jackson County indicate that the family was almost $4,000 behind on rent, and by May 2022, they faced eviction, owing nearly $12,000.

In May 2023, local officials investigated Colt after threats to shoot up a school were linked to a social media account associated with his email. Body camera footage from Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies interviewing him displayed a calm and respectful 13-year-old who denied making any threats.

Currently, authorities have not disclosed any motive for Colt Gray’s alleged attack on his school. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has requested that witnesses refrain from discussing their observations to safeguard the prosecution’s efforts.

The state investigation bureau has opted not to comment on the details of the case, and the local district attorney has cited Georgia laws restricting his comments outside the courtroom. A Barrow County grand jury is expected to review the evidence and likely bring forth additional charges, stated District Attorney Brad Smith from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit.

“Everyone in this community has been affected,” Smith remarked after the Grays’ court appearance. “All the children in that school are victims.  I feel the weight of that responsibility.”

‘Love will prevail,’ yet sorrow hangs heavy for Apalachee victims

Meanwhile, the community is striving to focus on the positive.

Residents are organizing barbecue fundraisers for the victims’ families, embellishing shop windows in the historic center with murals, and recognizing the police and first responders who swiftly intervened during the attack.

Signs stating “Love will prevail” with hand-drawn letters surround a makeshift memorial at the school’s flagpole, where the American and Georgia flags are still displayed at half-mast.

The residents of Barrow County hope to return to regular Friday night football games, church services, and weekend volleyball matches, but they are also watching their children closely as they return to school on Tuesday, wondering about the potential for similar incidents. They are questioning: Why did this happen here?

“It’s not merely about the loss of lives,” remarked trauma therapist Alicia Seymour from nearby McDonough, following a visit to the memorial site on Wednesday. “It’s about the loss of a sense of security. The loss of safety. The ongoing fear among parents. This type of trauma creates a domino effect.”

Psychiatrist Sabrina Browne, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, stated that community-wide attacks unsettle everyone involved. Having assisted post-Uvalde school shootings in Texas, Browne emphasized that residents of Barrow County should recognize that their grief may persist for many years. Survivors often grapple with feelings of guilt for having escaped harm, which can impede their grieving process.

“There is no singular way to grieve — everyone processes loss differently,” she explained. “Once the media attention fades, the community will still be coping with this for a long time.”

Browne suggested that parents of younger children might notice their kids becoming overly clingy or wanting to sleep in their beds, while older children might express anger or misbehavior, as these may be easier emotions to navigate.

Though most students in the Barrow County School District have resumed classes this week, Apalachee High School remains closed. Authorities have yet to determine how to reintegrate those students into the educational system.

While returning to school can help restore a sense of normalcy, the long-term effects will remain, according to Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. About 25 members of the association have experienced school shootings firsthand, and some have taken on the role of counselors for other affected communities.

In some instances following school shootings, neighborhoods have experienced rifts as residents debate or defend the actions of authorities and school officials.

The response to the initial attack and the subsequent decisions, such as when to allow people back into the building and how much to invest in security, has been a significant focus.

“Such incidents can completely disrupt communities,” Nozoe remarked. “They leave a lasting impact. Once they occur, they can’t be reversed.”

Nozoe emphasized the need to acknowledge the sorrow felt in Barrow County. He noted that Americans have grown numb to instances of mass shootings and school violence, which risks blurring our reality.

“If we don’t continue the conversation, we will forget,” he said. “This is the United States of America. No child should face gun violence or be harmed in our schools. Such acts should not occur; we must improve our approach.”

Finding Strength in Faith, Community Looks Forward

Though the events cannot be undone, many residents in Barrow County are drawing strength from their Christian convictions. At the historic Bethlehem First United Methodist Church, where many survivors and their families gather, church leaders encourage the community to embrace love, steering away from hatred.

“Help us in forgiving, so that bitterness and anger do not take hold of us as it appears to have with them,” Associate Pastor Beth Dickinson prayed, the ancient wooden benches straining under her congregation. “Teach us to love amid hatred. Teach us to be peacekeepers and reject violence.”

At the flower shop, Stinchcomb and her mother have mastered the art of bow-making, spending approximately two minutes on each one crafted from durable ribbon meant to adorn rural mailboxes for an extended period.

Stinchcomb expressed that while she is concerned about the circumstances that led to the shooting, she has complete confidence in how authorities are managing the situation, particularly regarding the safety of her own children returning to school.

“I have no worries about them attending school,” she stated. “I believe our law enforcement has exceeded our expectations—they have done an outstanding job.”

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, whose deputies have been commended for their quick response to end the shooting, mentioned that he cannot share details at this time. However, he expressed a desire for residents to maintain their trust in his deputies.

“I want the community to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure their children’s safety. I hope they will continue to have faith in us,” Smith stated.

What does he aspire for in the long run?

“Complete healing,” Smith replied. “God will provide that for us. He always does.”

Contributing: Michael Loria and Melissa Cruz