The teenager who killed four people in a shooting at his school in Winder, Georgia, USA, on Thursday, September 4, used a rifle and was questioned in 2023 on suspicion of making online threats about such an incident, authorities reported.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (OIG) identified the shooter at Apalachee High School as Colt Gray, a 14-year-old studentwho spent the night in jail after being taken into custody and will be charged with murder and tried as an adult.
At a press conference, OIG Director Chris Hosey said that The suspect used a “semi-automatic rifle-style” weapon and that “a lot of evidence” is being recovered and analyzed as part of the investigation, but there is no indication that he had an accomplice or that other schools are in danger.
The FBI said in a statement that both the shooter and his father were questioned in 2023 following an investigation into online threats about a shooting at an unspecified school, which were accompanied by photographs of weapons.
The agency said it received anonymous tips in May 2023 about those threats and that its investigation led to a “13-year-old male” who “is the same subject in custody in connection with today’s shootings at Apalachee High School.”
The FBI referred the suspect to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for questioning, but the teen denied responsibility for the threats, while his father said he kept hunting weapons in the home but his son “did not have unsupervised access to them.”
According to the FBI, there was no “probable cause” for an arrest or enforcement action, but the sheriff’s office alerted local schools to “continuously monitor” the youth.
Victims identified
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Police have released the identities of the four victims of the shooting that took place on Wednesday, September 4 at a high school in Winder, Georgia, whose alleged perpetrator, Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student who turned himself in to authorities and will be formally charged with four murders, among other charges.
Colt Gray will be charged with the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39.
According to FBI Director in Georgia, Chris HoseyGray will be tried as an adult.
Nine people were injured in the shooting, carried out with a weapon of the same type as the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, eight students and one teacher, all of whom are recovering, according to authorities.
The shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, a town of fewer than 20,000 residents about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, is the 45th shooting so far in 2024 at a U.S. school, according to a count by the television channel. CNN since 2008.
Jud Smith, the sheriff of Barrow County, which includes Winder County, said they learned there was an emergency situation at the school because a teacher pressed a button on a recently installed identification technology tool.
“We can no longer accept this as normal,” President Joe Biden said of school violence after learning of the events in Winder.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said that Apalachee High School shooting is ‘the worst nightmare’ and promised that the state will use all resources to support the community.
An official source informed CNN that early on the morning of Wednesday, September 4, an anonymous phone call was received at Apalachee High School announcing that there were going to be shootings at five schools in the area and an investigation is underway to identify the caller.
For now It is unknown whether Colt Gray, the alleged perpetrator, had a direct relationship with the people he shot and killed, two of whom were mathematics teachers.
Barrow County schools will be closed and will resume on Monday, September 9.
Mexican teen confirmed dead in Georgia shooting
The Government of Mexico, through its consulate in Atlanta, confirmed this Thursday, September 5 that a minor with Mexican nationality, identified as Christian Angulo, is among the victims of the shooting perpetrated on Wednesday 4 at a school in Winder, Georgia, which left four dead.
“The SRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) regrets the death of the Mexican minor and sends its condolences to the family, as well as to the community of Winder, in light of this tragic event,” the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
On Wednesday, September 4, a 14-year-old student, identified as Colt Gray opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, killing four people. Nine people were also injured, eight students and one teacher, all of whom are recovering, according to authorities.
“The Government of Mexico strongly condemns this act of violence and denounces violence perpetrated by firearms. It reiterates its firm commitment to protect the rights of the Mexican community in the United States,” the SRE stated.
He said that the Mexican Consulate General in Atlanta implemented the emergency response protocol and contacted the family of the minor of Mexican nationality, but born in the United States, “to provide the necessary support.”
The Mexican delegation is also in contact with the authorities to confirm the health status and nationality of the people hospitalized, and to rule out the possibility of more Mexican people being affected.
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**Frequently Asked Questions (PAA)**
Tragedy Strikes Apalachee High School: 14-Year-Old Shooter Kills Four, Injures Nine
On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, a devastating shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, leaving four people dead and nine injured. The shooter, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, used a semi-automatic rifle-style weapon in the attack.
According to authorities, Gray was questioned in 2023 on suspicion of making online threats about a school shooting, along with his father. Although no probable cause was found for an arrest or enforcement action, the sheriff’s office alerted local schools to continually monitor the youth ( [2] ).
The victims of the shooting have been identified as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39. Gray will be formally charged with four murders, among other charges, and will be tried as an adult ( [1] ).
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities recovering and analyzing evidence. So far, there is no indication that Gray had an accomplice or that other schools are in danger. The FBI is working closely with local authorities to investigate the incident.
The shooting at Apalachee High School is the 45th school shooting in the United States in 2024, according to a count by CNN since 2008. The incident has sparked outrage and concern about school violence, with President Joe Biden stating, “We can no longer accept this as normal” ( [2] ).
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has also responded to the incident, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and promising to work towards preventing such tragedies in the future.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community has come together to mourn the loss of the four victims. The entrance sign of Apalachee High School has been adorned with flowers from visitors, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragic event ( [3] ).
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to understand the motivations behind Gray’s actions and to identify any potential warning signs that may have been missed. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance and awareness in detecting potential threats and preventing school violence.
References:
[1] https://apnews.com/article/georgia-high-school-lockdown-3969d34cf6a7adc787facf21c469ef4d
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-respond-incident-high-school-georgia/story?id=113381873
