WINDER, Georgia ‒ Snip. Twist. Straighten.

“This is the kind of thing you think only happens in other places,” remarked Sherry Miller, who owns a local flower shop as she crafted and tossed a blue-and-gold ribbon bow onto her worktable. “You never imagine it could happen here.”

The bows, reflecting the colors of Apalachee High School, symbolize the memories of the victims of a tragic incident that has drawn widespread attention and raised numerous questions across the community and 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, resulting in the deaths of two math teachers and two fellow classmates. This horrific event has shattered the community’s sense of security, leading to days filled with sorrow and mourning.

Many questions arise, such as why the assailant targeted a school he had only attended for a short time and whether law enforcement, aware of multiple threats he had made about a potential school shooting, could have acted more decisively. Concerns also surround the roles of the boy’s parents and school counselors in this tragic incident.

“I just can’t understand how something like this could happen. It seems to reflect the times we live in,” said Miller, 68, as she deftly cut through another piece of ribbon.

Despite the mounting fear in Barrow County, which has a population of about 90,000, there is also a sense of hope and faith among residents.

Since the incident, Miller and her daughter Paige Stinchcomb have been diligently creating bows for their community, with the proceeds going to a local foundation. Their shop’s door chime rings constantly as customers come in to purchase $10 bows.

There has been such a demand for the bows that customers are now on a week-long waiting list. Unfortunately, Miller is running low on ribbon, with new supplies not expected until the weekend.

“Everyone wants to contribute to something positive. I truly believe there is more good than evil in the world, and people are trying to showcase that,” said Stinchcomb, 39, as she managed the ribbon spool.

A Troubling Situation: Mother Claims Accused Attacker ‘Is Not a Monster’

Colt Gray, 14, has been arrested in relation to the shooting. He faces charges of killing students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old, along with math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. In total, eight other students and another teacher suffered injuries during the attack.

Colt’s father, Colin Gray, was also arrested and charged with murder for enabling his son to access the firearm. Neither Colt nor Colin has publicly commented on the situation or responded to the allegations, with further charges anticipated as the case progresses to a grand jury review.

Colt is currently held at a regional juvenile detention center, while Colin remains incarcerated at the Barrow County Detention Center, located approximately five miles from the school. The event has sparked similar threats elsewhere across the nation.

On September 11, Colt’s mother made an apology to the community through an open letter, stating her belief that her son “is not a monster.”

In her statement to CNN, Marcee Gray expressed, “We are all living in a nightmare right now, and I will personally never forgive myself for what has happened.” She did not address Colin Gray, whom she previously described as an abusive spouse, according to her Linkedin account. The couple had divorced a few years prior.

Neighbors indicated they were unfamiliar with Colin Gray personally, though some had glimpsed him arriving home or departing for work in his truck. The home that Colt and Colin occupied, located on a rural road about five miles from the school, is a rental, and residents noted that Colin had not been living there for an extended period.

Following the shooting, a large presence of law enforcement, including deputies, state detectives, and federal agents, converged on the residence. Reports indicate they interviewed Colin Gray while he was seated on the tailgate of his vehicle before taking him into custody.

The Gray family had long resided in the area, although court documents and interviews depict a family in distress.

Gray possesses a master’s degree and previously worked as a quality control engineer and a supervisor at a steel distributor in Winder in 2015.

However, she has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2019, she was sued for issuing a bounced check of $10,000, according to court records.

In 2023, she faced charges for possessing controlled substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and muscle relaxers. Additionally, she was charged for vandalizing Colin Gray’s company truck, based on information from court records reviewed by YSL News.

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

Child support orders filed in three counties around Atlanta reveal that Colin Gray has been primarily responsible for the financial upkeep of their four children until early 2022. In Jackson County, court documents indicate the family was approximately $4,000 behind on rent. By May 2022, when an eviction order was issued, their rent arrears had grown to almost $12,000.

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

As of now, investigators have not disclosed any potential motives for Colt Gray to harm his school, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has urged witnesses to refrain from discussing their observations to safeguard the prosecution’s case.

The GBI has opted not to comment on the significant details of the case, nor has the local district attorney, who has referenced Georgia laws governing what can be shared outside of court. A grand jury in Barrow County is expected to review the evidence, which may lead to additional charges, according to Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Smith.

“Everyone in this community is a victim,” said Smith after the Grays appeared in court. “Every child in that school is a victim. I feel the weight of all of that.”

‘Love will prevail’ but grief lingers for Apalachee victims

At present, the community is focused on positivity.

Residents are organizing BBQ fundraisers for the victims and their families, creating murals on shop windows throughout the historic downtown area, and honoring the police and first responders who intervened quickly during the attack.

Signs stating “Love will prevail,” with hand-drawn letters bleeding into the paper, surround a makeshift memorial at the school’s flagpole, where American and Georgia flags continue to fly at half-staff.

Residents of Barrow County are eager to return to enjoying Friday night football games, regular church services, and weekend volleyball matches. However, they are also closely monitoring their children, who returned to school on Tuesday, and voicing concerns about the possibility of similar incidents occurring in the future.

“It’s not simply about the loss of lives,” remarked trauma therapist Alicia Seymour, a resident of nearby McDonough, after visiting the memorial site on Wednesday. “It’s also the loss of security, the loss of safety, and the ongoing fear experienced by parents everywhere. This type of trauma has a compounding effect.”

Psychiatrist Sabrina Browne, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, explained that such community violence can be disorienting for everyone involved. Having assisted following the Uvalde school shootings in Texas, she emphasized that residents of Barrow County need to recognize that their grief is likely to endure, potentially for a lifetime. She noted that survivors may struggle with feelings of guilt for not being harmed, complicating their ability to grieve effectively.

“There is no correct way to grieve; it varies from person to person and each experience will be unique,” she stated. “Once the media attention has dissipated, they will continue to deal with these feelings indefinitely.”

Browne mentioned that parents of younger children should be attentive, as their kids may suddenly desire to sleep in bed with them or display excessive clinginess. In contrast, older children might express their feelings through acting out or misbehavior, often resorting to anger as a more manageable emotion.

Most students in Barrow County School District returned to class earlier this week, but Apalachee High School remains closed. Officials have yet to announce how they will address the return of those students to class.

While reentering the classroom can reestablish some sense of normalcy, the effects of the tragedy will persist, noted Ronn Nozoe, the CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Approximately 25 members of the association have previously experienced school shootings, with some now serving as counselors for other impacted communities.

After various school shootings, neighborhoods have faced divisions, with residents either criticizing or defending officials regarding their handling of the initial attack and subsequent decisions, including when to reopen schools.

The discussion revolves around how much funding should be allocated for security improvements.

“Such incidents can devastate entire communities,” remarked Nozoe. “The repercussions linger on. Once an event occurs, there’s no way to reverse it.”

Nozoe emphasized the necessity of acknowledging the sorrow and consequences faced by the residents of Barrow County. He noted that people have grown numb to the frequent occurrences of mass shootings and school violence, leading to a critical loss of perspective.

“If we stop discussing these issues, they will fade from memory,” he asserted. “We are the United States of America. No child should ever face gun violence in our schools. This is utterly unacceptable, and we must strive for improvement.”

United in faith, Barrow County looks forward

Although the scars of recent events cannot be erased, many residents in Barrow County are holding on to their Christian beliefs for support. At the historic Bethlehem First United Methodist Church — a place of prayer for some survivors and their families — community leaders are encouraging a focus on love rather than hatred.

“Guide us in forgiveness, so resentment and rage don’t engulf us as it seems to have done for others,” prayed Associate Pastor Beth Dickinson, as the congregation sat on the creaking wooden pews that have stood for two centuries. “Help us to love amid hostility. Help us become champions of peace and turn away from violence.”

At Stinchcomb’s flower shop, she and her mother have mastered the art of bow-making, taking only two minutes to create each bow from sturdy ribbon intended to adorn rural mailboxes for an extended period.

Even though Stinchcomb has concerns regarding the motives behind the attack, she expresses full confidence in law enforcement, especially regarding the safety of her own children as they return to school.

“I feel completely secure about them attending school,” she stated. “Our law enforcement has gone above and beyond — they have done an outstanding job.”

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, whose deputies have been celebrated for their speedy response during the shooting, mentioned that he’s unable to discuss specific details at this time. However, he hopes the community continues to respect his deputies.

“I want the public to know that we are committed to ensuring their children’s safety. I trust they will have continued faith in us in the future,” Smith remarked.

What does he wish for in the long term?

“Total healing,” Smith replied. “That’s something only God can provide us. He always does.”

Contributors: Michael Loria and Melissa Cruz