Georgia leaders show outpouring of support to families impacted by Apalachee High mass shooting

Updated Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024

ATLANTA—Georgia leaders are sending up prayers and expressing an outpouring of support in the wake of the deadly mass shooting today (Sept. 4) at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA. Winder is located about 50 miles east of Atlanta in Barrow County.

Two students and two teachers were killed and 9 others were hospitalized—eight students and teachers–in the incident.

The shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at Apalachee High, surrendered and dropped to the ground when he was confronted by a school resource officer during the shooting. Authorities said Gray will be charged with murder as an adult. The weapon used in the shooting was an Ar-15 style rifle, officials said.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith called the shooting “pure evil” while speaking to the media during a press conference.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp directed state officials to provide resources and urged the  community at large to join his family in praying for Barrow County and schools throughout the state.

“I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted on X. “We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.”

Multiple authorities have interviewed the suspect and his family but have not yet provided a motive. The investigation has been turned over to the GBI, authorities said during a 9 p.m. press conference.

The high school received a phone call this morning warning that there would be shootings at five schools and that Apalachee would be the first, multiple media outlets reported. No other threats, however, were found at any other schools, authorities said.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued the following statement earlier today as the incident unfolded:

“My prayers are with the high school students, staff and families affected by the senseless act of violence in Winder, Georgia. I have been in contact with Chief Schierbaum, and the Atlanta Police Department has been working with the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department to bolster patrols around our schools for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution. APD has also been on standby in case law enforcement agencies need assistance with this incident. May God comfort the victims and their loved ones in the difficult days ahead.” 

Meanwhile, as the Apalachee High School mass shooting dominated the news on Wednesday, the Rockdale County School District sent out a robo-callat 6:30 p.m. notifying parents that they were monitoring the situation and offered support to any family who needed it.

For many Rockdale residents, the Barrow County shooting on Wednesday was a grim reminder of the Heritage High School shooting that occurred in Rockdale on May 20, 1999. On that day, Anthony “T.J.” Solomon, who was 15 years old, walked into the commons area at Heritage where he was a student and opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle into a crowd of more than a hundred people,  wounding six students, one of them critically.  No one was killed in the incident. Solomon was released on July 26, 2016 from Phillips State Prison in Buford, GA,  after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence. 

The Heritage campus shooting happened exactly one month after the deadly April 20, 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.

House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R-Auburn), Majority Caucus Vice Chairman Houston Gaines (R-Athens) and State Representative Holt Persinger (R-Winder) issued the following statements on the shooting.

“Ashley and I mourn today’s tragic loss of life in our community and are in prayer for the victims and their families, as well as for the students, faculty and staff at Apalachee High School who were impacted by the shooting,” said Leader Efstration, who represents District 104, which includes portions of Barrow and Gwinnett counties.

“We are grateful to law enforcement for their courageous response to neutralize the shooter and secure the scene.”

“This morning, students, teachers and staff went to school expecting a day like any other — and instead were met with tragedy,” said Vice Chairman Gaines, who represents District 120, which includes portions of Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties. “I join all Georgians in praying for the victims of today’s senseless violence, their loved ones and the Apalachee High School and Barrow County community. What happened today should never occur anywhere in our society, much less in our schools. Thank you to our law enforcement officers and first responders who immediately jumped into action. May God Bless Apalachee High School and Barrow County.”

“I am deeply saddened by today’s senseless shooting at Apalachee High School,” said Rep. Persinger, who represents District 119, which includes portions of Barrow and Jackson counties.  “It is my hope that all Georgians will lift up Barrow County in prayer tonight as our community grapples with this tragedy.”

Speaker of the House Jon Burns (R-Newington) issued the following statement in response to the shooting that took place today at Apalachee High School in Barrow County:

“Our state’s heart breaks today – including mine. As a father and a grandfather, I am devastated by the horrific tragedy that took place today at Apalachee High School. We continue to mourn the senseless loss of life, and pray for those who were injured as we lift up their families and the entire Barrow County community during this time.

“We have prioritized making significant investments in mental health and school safety funding – and while there will be a time and place for policy discussions, our sole focus right now remains on surrounding these students, teachers and families with our love and support.

“We will continue to lift up the entire Barrow County community during this difficult time, and stand ready to assist the Governor in bringing every possible resource, assistance and justice to these families following this unthinkable tragedy.”

Sen. Emanuel Jones, chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage,  issued the following statement:

“My deepest condolences are with the students, faculty, families and anyone else affected by this horrible act of violence that took place today at Apalachee High School. This tragic shooting is a stark and painful reminder that now is the time to address the critical issue of safe firearm storage.

As Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Safe Firearm Storage, I am committed to finding solutions to stop these tragedies before they occur. This is not about infringing on Second Amendment rights but protecting our children and their safety. The technology exists today to secure firearms effectively, ensuring that they do not fall into the hands of those who should not have access to them, particularly children. On average, 1,927 people die by guns in Georgia each year—these are not just numbers; they are lives lost and families shattered. We must do more.

I call on all elected officials to take meaningful action and ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. Our children deserve better. They deserve to be safe in their schools and communities, and it is our responsibility as leaders to make that a reality.”