Suspect in custody after Georgia high school shooting leaves 4 dead and 30 injured

A suspect has been arrested following a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, according to law enforcement sources. At least four people were killed and about 30 others were injured in the shooting.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, sent shockwaves through the small community and sparked a massive response from local and state authorities.

The Barrow County Sheriff's Office reported that a suspect, believed to be of high school age, is currently in custody. However, it remains unclear if the person is a student at Apalachee High School. Law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed the number of injuries directly attributable to gunshot wounds, noting that the situation remains unclear.

In response to the shooting, all schools in the Barrow County school system were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure, but no further incidents were reported.

Sheriff Jud Smith stressed during a brief press conference at the scene that the public must be patient. He said, “There are many injured,” but declined to give an exact number of victims at this time. Smith assured that a more detailed update would be released around 4 p.m. ET.

The first call reporting an active shooter came in around 9:30 a.m., prompting an immediate and forceful response from local police. Video footage from outside the school showed a significant number of ambulances and police vehicles, as well as at least one rescue helicopter transporting a patient from the aircraft. Additional helicopters remain on standby, and several seriously injured people were airlifted to medical facilities.

Grady Health System, a Level 1 trauma center in Atlanta, confirmed it had admitted a victim with a gunshot wound who was transported from the scene by helicopter. The hospital is prepared to treat additional injured people if needed, a spokesperson told CNN.

The FBI has dispatched special agents to assist local authorities in the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Apalachee High School, part of the Barrow County school system, has given students permission to leave the school and parents have been notified to pick them up. The school district is providing transportation to students who need it.

In a statement on social media, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his concern and commitment to the affected community and directed all available state resources to assist on the ground. “I urge all citizens of Georgia to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state,” Kemp said.

The city of Winder, which has a population of about 18,338 according to the 2020 census, is struggling with the aftermath of this devastating event. The Barrow County school system is the 24th largest in Georgia, serving about 15,340 students, 1,932 of whom are enrolled at Apalachee High School.