Four people have been reported killed in a shooting at a Georgia high school on Wednesday, just weeks after the school year began, and a suspect was arrested, according to law enforcement.
This tragic event marked the first school shooting of the new academic year in the United States, highlighting the ongoing threat of gun violence in educational institutions nationwide.
The shooting took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, leaving four dead and nine others injured who were taken to hospitals, as reported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on X.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a suspect was in custody, with CNN identifying the individual as a 14-year-old boy.
“This is an evil act we are witnessing today,” Sheriff Jud Smith stated during a brief news conference, though he did not confirm the fatalities, only mentioning “multiple injuries.”
The incident occurred around 50 miles northeast of Atlanta.
It seemed to be under control by midday, with students being released, according to a Barrow County Schools spokesperson.
TV footage showed parents anxiously waiting in cars outside the school to be reunited with their children.
The school, which had about 1,900 students last year, began classes on August 1.
Sheriff Smith said the first report of the shooting came around 9:30 a.m., just over an hour after classes started.
According to reports, a student, Sergio Caldera, described hearing gunshots during his chemistry class. He said his teacher was warned by another teacher to close the door due to an active shooter. As they sheltered in the classroom, someone banged on the door, demanding it be opened, followed by more gunshots and screams. The class eventually evacuated to the football field.
Several ambulances were present at the scene, and a patient was seen being airlifted by helicopter from the school.
The sheriff’s office stated that multiple law enforcement and emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene.
The FBI also sent agents to assist local authorities, according to spokeswoman Jenna Sellitto.
The White House reported that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation and that the administration was coordinating with officials at all levels.
Biden expressed mourning for the victims and called for bipartisan cooperation to pass “common-sense gun safety legislation.” Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, called the shooting a “senseless tragedy” and urged action to stop the epidemic of gun violence.
The campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
David Reidman, who runs the K-12 School Shooting Database, described the incident as the first “planned attack” at a school this fall. While Apalachee students returned to school last month, many other students across the country are returning this week.
These events have fueled intense debates over U.S. gun laws and the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
