Tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia: Details and updates

A shooting at Apalachee High School in Windermere, Georgia resulted in four deaths and nine injuries. The 14-year-old Colt Greywho was previously investigated for online threats, is now in custody and charged with murder. The community is mourning as authorities investigate how he obtained the firearm.
On the morning of September 4, a tragic shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student, reportedly opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, killing two teachers and two students and injuring nine others. Gray, who was previously investigated for making online threats, is now in custody and charged as an adult with murder. The community is grappling with the aftermath as the motives behind the shooting remain unclear.

Lyela Sayarath, an eleventh-grade student, detailed the events leading up to the incident. Colt Gray, described as a quiet student who frequently skipped class, sat next to Sayarath in math class. He briefly left the classroom but returned minutes later and was not allowed back in due to the automatic locking system. Shortly afterward, gunfire broke out in a nearby classroom. Sayarath recalled, “He never really talked. Most of the time he wasn't there. Either he didn't come to school or he just skipped class,” adding, “Even if he did talk, it was just monosyllabic answers or short statements.” She also mentioned, “They almost let him in, but I'm pretty sure she saw he had a gun and that's why she backed away,” referring to her teacher's reaction when Gray tried to re-enter the classroom. “And then he turned away and then you hear something like the first salvo.”
As panic spread throughout the school, students sought shelter by barricading themselves in classrooms. Junior Layla Ferrell and her health class imposed a “hard lockdown,” while second-grader Kaylee Abner took cover with classmates in her geometry class. Abner said, “A classmate next to me was praying and I held his hand while we waited.” Second-grader Jacob King, who had dozed off in class, was startled by the gunfire and saw police officers tending to injured students. Twelfth-grader Ashley Enoh received a heartbreaking text from her brother amid the chaos, saying, “Just so you know, I love you.”
Erin Clark, the mother of senior Ethan, rushed to the scene after receiving a text message from her son about the active shooter. They exchanged messages of love as she rushed to ensure his safety. “I'm so proud of him,” she said after finding Ethan safe and sound in the stands of the football stadium. Authorities arrested Gray within minutes of the first shots being fired. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith expressed shared grief, saying, “My heart aches for these children. But love will prevail over what happened today.” Governor Brian Kemp and other leaders expressed condolences, with Kemp acknowledging the depth of the tragedy and calling it “a day every parent dreads.”
Last year, Colt Gray was questioned after receiving anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting. Despite the alarming tips and the photos of weapons shown, authorities concluded there was no probable cause for an arrest or further action at the time. Sayarath noted the uncanny similarity between Gray's behavior and the stereotypes often associated with school shooters, explaining, “When you think of school shooters and their behavior or actions, you usually think of the quiet kid.”
After the shooting, Sayarath described the disturbing scene in which her friend emerged from the adjacent classroom covered in blood and visibly shaken. “I saw a lot of blood … it was just horrible,” said sophomore Shantal Sanvee. Among the victims was 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn, a student with autism. Gray surrendered to authorities without resistance, and an investigation is underway to determine how he obtained the firearm. The names of the other victims have not been released.
The small town of Winder, about an hour outside of Atlanta, is currently grappling with the loss and trauma caused by this act of violence. While authorities continue to search for answers, the community remains united in its grief and strives to support one another during this difficult time.