A tragic mass shooting unfolded at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, 2024, leaving four dead and nine injured. The suspect, identified as 14-year-old student Colt Gray, opened fire around 10:20 a.m., killing two fellow 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.Gray surrendered to authorities shortly after their arrival and will be charged and tried as an adult for murder, despite his age. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith describing the incident as ‘pure evil’.In a disturbing revelation, it has come to light that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had previously investigated Gray in May 2023 over anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting. However, at the time, there was insufficient evidence to make an arrest or press charges.The tragedy has reignited the national debate on gun control and school safety. President Joe Biden called for gun safety legislation, stating, ‘We cannot continue to accept this as normal’. Vice President Kamala Harris echoed these sentiments, saying, ‘It’s just outrageous that every day, in our country, in the United States of America, that parents have to send their children to school worried about whether or not their child will come home alive’.As the community grapples with this devastating event, a vigil was held in Winder to mourn the victims. The school will remain closed for the rest of the week as authorities continue their investigation. This incident marks the 45th school shooting in the United States in 2024, underscoring the ongoing crisis of gun violence in American schools.
Key points
- 14-year-old student Colt Gray killed four people and injured nine in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
- The FBI had previously investigated Gray in 2023 for online threats about committing a school shooting.
- The incident has reignited the national debate on gun control, with President Biden and Vice President Harris calling for stricter gun laws.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injured, with some sources stating ‘at least nine’ and others reporting ‘over 30’.
