Sequence of Events: The Tragic Shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia
An ongoing investigation is looking into the shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to nine more at a high school in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning. A 14-year-old student has been taken into custody as a suspect.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey confirmed in a press briefing that two students and two teachers were killed, but their identities have yet to be released. It remains unclear whether there was any relationship between the victims and the alleged shooter.
The alleged shooter has been named as Colt Gray, and he is expected to face murder charges.
According to reports, the shooting at Apalachee High School began around 10:20 a.m. Emergency services quickly responded, resulting in a lockdown of the school.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith stated that the suspect was apprehended after being confronted by law enforcement.
Here is what we know about the incident so far.
Location of the Shooting
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Police Response Timeline
(All listed times are in EDT and approximate)
8:30 a.m.: Classes for the first period commence.
10-10:30 a.m.: A sophomore recalls being in her second-period class when another student entered, urging everyone to get down, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
10:20 a.m.: Law enforcement begins receiving reports of an active shooter, as stated by Hosey during the conference.
10:23 a.m.: Officers are dispatched to the school.
10:45 a.m.: The school notifies parents: “Apalachee High School is currently on hard lockdown due to reports of gunfire. Law enforcement is on-site. Please refrain from coming to the school as officers work to secure the area,” reported by the Athens Banner-Herald.
11 a.m.: A significant police presence is noted around the school, CBS affiliate WANF reports.
11:20 a.m.: Students are moved to the football field behind the school.
11:56 a.m.: Authorities confirm that one suspect is in custody, according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.
12:07 p.m.: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announces its involvement in the school shooting case.
1:15 p.m.: The Barrow County sheriff states during a press briefing, “It will take several days to collect all the information.”
2:13 p.m.: The GBI releases an update revealing that four individuals have died and nine others are hospitalized due to injuries sustained.
Apalachee High School enrolls approximately 1,900 students from grades nine to twelve. Established in 2000, it is one of two high schools within the Barrow County school district. Winder, where the school is located, is a rural community with a population of around 18,300.
The location, roughly 30 miles away from Athens, Georgia, is the focus of the report.
According to the sheriff’s office, Barrow County schools were placed under lockdown as a “precautionary measure” on Wednesday morning.
Superintendent Dallas LeDuff of the Barrow County School System announced that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the week, and grief counseling services will be accessible.
Contributors: Jonathan Limestone, Wayne Ford, Jeanine Santucci, YSL News Network
Source: Reporting and research by the YSL News Network; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Reuters