Situation Report: Georgia School Shooting Full Details of What is Known So Far
Four are dead in This Year's 45th School Shooting - 89 Lives Have Been Lost This Year to Date. 14 Year Old Shooter is in custody and used an AR-15 style weapon and had previously been investigaged.
The school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, 2024, marks the 45th school shooting this year involving injuries or deaths, with at least 89 lives lost across the U.S. in 2024 alone. This devastating incident left four people dead — two students and two teachers— and nine others injured. Once gain gun violence leaps to the forefront of the national consciousness. Below is a comprehensive update on the latest details surrounding this tragic event.
Key Facts
• Victims: Four individuals were killed, including two students—Mason Schermerhorn, a 14-year-old autistic student, and Christian Angulo, another 14-year-old student—and two faculty members, teacher Christina Irimie and coach Richard Aspinwall. Nine others were injured, including teachers David Phenix, who was shot in the hip and foot, and Jah’Quih Pledger, a physical education instructor . Several victims were treated at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta .
• Timeline of Events: The first report of the shooting came in at 9:30 a.m., but the school was not placed on lockdown until 10:20 a.m.. Law enforcement responded swiftly, arriving at the school by 10:23 a.m. Within minutes, school resource officers engaged the suspect, who surrendered without further incident .
• Weapon: The shooter, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, used an AR-15 style rifle during the attack. Investigators are now working to determine how he acquired the firearm .
• Suspect: Colt Gray, a student at Apalachee High School, has been taken into custody and will be charged with murder. He is expected to be tried as an adult . Prior to this, the FBI had investigated him in May 2023 after anonymous tips about online threats of a school shooting. Despite the investigation, no arrest was made due to a lack of probable cause .
The Shooting and Reactions
Students, just a month into the new school year, initially believed the lockdown was a drill. However, they quickly realized it was real after hearing gunfire. Some students barricaded classroom doors with furniture, while others took cover and hid. Witnesses recalled the terrifying moment when someone pounded on a door, shouting “open up!” followed by gunshots and screams . After the building was deemed safe, students were evacuated to the football field to reunite with their anxious families .
Response and Investigation
Federal, state, and local law enforcement responded quickly to the scene, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Both Governor Brian Kemp and President Joe Biden expressed their condolences, with Biden pledging federal resources to aid the investigation . Attorney General Merrick Garland also expressed his devastation, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre raised concerns about the need for stricter gun control measures .
Investigation
The FBI’s Atlanta office confirmed that agents were on-site assisting with the investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement are collaborating to piece together the events leading up to the shooting and investigate how Gray accessed the firearm .
Context and School Shooting Statistics
This shooting, the 45th school shooting in 2024, is part of a larger pattern of gun violence in U.S. schools. So far this year, at least 89 people have been killed in school-related shootings . The tragedy has reignited calls for increased gun control measures, including universal background checks and improved mental health support for students.
Community and Government Reactions
Governor Brian Kemp, Representative Mike Collins, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens all issued statements expressing their condolences and offering support to the families of the victims. Vice President Kamala Harris also commented, emphasizing the need for change to prevent future tragedies .
We will continue to monitor and provide updates as more becomes known.