Washington.-It happened again. A new gun attack left several people dead and injured at a school in the United States.
A teenager opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, a few miles from Atlanta in the state of Georgia.
Local authorities reported that four people were killed and nine injured were taken to hospital.
Police identified the victims as teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angelo.
Speaking to reporters, County Sheriff Judd Smith said it would take several days before we have answers about what happened and why it happened.
Officers first received reports of the shooting at the school of about 1,900 students around 10:20 a.m. local time.
“Within minutes, police arrived on scene, as well as two school resource officers assigned to the school who immediately encountered the subject,” the sheriff said at a news conference.
At a news conference, Chris Hosey of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the weapon used was an “AR-style platform.”
The shooter spoke to investigators after being detained, Smith said.
Dozens of police officers quickly responded to the shooting at the school, which was locked down and cleared, and students were taken to a nearby football stadium before being reunited with their families.
US President Joe Biden was informed of the situation and issued a statement saying he was “mourning the deaths,” which he blamed on “more senseless violence.”
“What should have been a joyous return to school in Winder, Georgia, has turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” said the president, who once again called on Congress to impose more restrictions on access to and use of weapons.
“We can no longer accept this as normal,” Biden said.
Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris said the shooting was a tragedy “one of many senseless tragedies.”
“We have to end this epidemic of gun violence in this country once and for all,” Harris said at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said: “Our hearts go out to the victims and all those affected.”
“These beloved children were taken from us by a sick and deranged monster,” Trump said.
Testimonies from the families of students at the school reflected the anguish they experienced.
Shirly Powers, the grandmother of one of the children, told NBC News that her terrified daughter called her from work “screaming that there was a shooter” at the school.
“He asked me to get there as soon as possible,” Powers said.
Lyela Sayarath, who was in the alleged shooter’s class, told CNN that the suspect left the classroom at the start of her algebra lesson.
He said he returned and knocked on the door, which had locked automatically, but another student refused to let him in after noticing he had a gun.
Sayarath told CNN the shooter then went into the classroom next door, where he began shooting.
Alexsandra Romero, a sophomore, said she was sitting in class when someone burst in and yelled at students, warning them to duck.
“I can only remember my hands shaking,” she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
«I felt bad because everyone was crying, everyone was trying to find their brothers.
Marques Coleman, 14, said he saw the attacker holding a “big gun” just before the shooting began.
“I got up, I started running, he started shooting like 10 times. He shot at least 10 times,” she told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. “My teacher started blocking the door with desks,” she said.
After getting to his feet, the student said he saw “one of his classmates on the ground bleeding badly,” another girl shot in the leg and a friend shot in the stomach.”BBC.
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2024-09-10 19:55:54
Table of Contents
Tragedy Strikes Again: Apalachee High School Shooting Leaves Four Dead and Nine Injured
In a devastating incident, a teenager opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, leaving four people dead and nine injured. The shooting, which occurred on September 10, 2024, has sent shockwaves across the nation, with many calling for stricter gun control measures.
The Shooting
According to local authorities, the shooting occurred around 10:20 a.m. local time, when the 14-year-old suspect, later identified as Colt Gray, opened fire at the school of about 1,900 students. Police quickly responded to the scene, and the shooter was detained shortly after. The victims were identified as teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angelo.
Investigation
The FBI had been alerted to the suspect’s online threats about a school shooting in 2023, and local schools were asked to monitor him [[1]]. However, despite these efforts, the tragedy still occurred. In an interview, Colt Gray’s mother, Marcee Gray, explained what led her son to commit the heinous act, stating that her son had been bullied and was struggling with mental health issues [[2]].
Responses to the Shooting
US President Joe Biden was informed of the situation and issued a statement condemning the senseless violence, calling for Congress to impose more restrictions on access to and use of weapons [[3]]. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris also condemned the shooting, stating that the country needs to end the epidemic of gun violence. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
Eyewitness Accounts
Students at the school shared harrowing accounts of the shooting. Lyela Sayarath, who was in the alleged shooter’s class, told CNN that the suspect left the classroom at the start of her algebra lesson and returned with a gun [[3]]. Alexsandra Romero, a sophomore, described the chaos and fear that gripped the school as the shooting occurred.
A Call to Action
The Apalachee High School shooting is a tragic reminder of the need for stricter gun control measures and increased mental health support. It is imperative that lawmakers take action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. As President Biden aptly put it, “We can no longer accept this as normal.”
References
[[1]]https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c049yw352r1o
[[2]]https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/10/us/video/colt-gray-mother-apalachee-school-shooting-georgia-cnc-ldn-digvid
[[3]]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-a-warning-from-the-suspects-mother-wasnt-enough-to-stop-the-georgia-school-shooting
The Devastating Reality of School Shootings in the United States
Another day, another tragedy. A recent school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has left four people dead and nine injured [[2]]. This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in the United States, particularly in schools.
A Growing Concern
School shootings have become an all-too-familiar occurrence in the United States. According to a list of school shootings in the United States by death toll, there have been numerous incidents that have resulted in four or more deaths, including the perpetrators who died during the shooting [[1]]. These tragedies have a profound impact on the victims, their families, and the entire community.
The Impact on Mental Health
Surviving a school shooting can have long-lasting effects on the mental health of those involved. Research indicates that there is a higher rate of antidepressant use among those exposed to a school shooting in the years following the gun violence [[3]]. The trauma and emotional distress caused by these events can lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Apalachee High School Shooting
In the most recent shooting, a 14-year-old boy opened fire at Apalachee High School, killing four people, including two teachers and two students. The victims were identified as Christina Irimie, Richard Aspinwall, Mason Schermerhorn, and Christian Angelo. The shooter, who was detained and spoke to investigators, used an “AR-style platform” weapon.
The Response from Authorities and Politicians
Local authorities, including County Sheriff Judd Smith, responded quickly to the shooting, and students were taken to a nearby football stadium before being reunited with their families. US President Joe Biden was informed of the situation and issued a statement condemning the “senseless violence” and calling for stricter gun control laws. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris also spoke out against the tragedy, stating that it was “one of many senseless tragedies” and calling for an end to the “epidemic of gun violence” in the country. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
A Call to Action
School shootings are a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to address gun violence in the United States. It is imperative that policymakers, lawmakers, and community leaders work together to find solutions to this crisis. We cannot accept this as normal. We must take concrete steps to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the first place.
the Apalachee High School shooting is a devastating reminder of the ongoing crisis of gun violence in the United States. It is our collective responsibility to work towards creating a safer and more compassionate society for all. We must learn from these tragedies and take action to prevent them from happening again in the future.
