Four individuals lost their lives in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, according to the state’s Bureau of Investigation. A suspect, who is reportedly a student at the school, has been apprehended and is currently in custody.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also reported that at least nine others were hospitalized with injuries. Among them, one person was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, a major trauma center. Early reports suggested around 30 people were injured, though not all injuries were gunshot-related.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed that there were numerous injuries, and it would take several days to piece together the details of the incident. “Every minute, it’s developing on what we’re finding,” Smith stated at a news conference.
The shooting occurred around 9:30 a.m. at Apalachee High School, located about 50 miles from Atlanta, with approximately 1,800 students enrolled. The school was cleared for dismissal, but other schools in Barrow County were placed on a “soft lockdown” for safety reasons.
The Barrow County School District urged parents not to visit their child’s school during the lockdown and promised to provide updates once the situation was resolved.
Senior Sergio Caldera recounted being in chemistry class when gunshots were heard. His teacher locked the door as advised by another teacher, and students huddled in the back of the room. Caldera described the chaos, including screams and pounding on the classroom door, followed by additional gunshots and cries for help.
