Teen kills 4 in Georgia high school shooting
A student shot and killed two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School


What happened
A student shot and killed two classmates and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, yesterday. The 14-year-old suspect, who surrendered when confronted by police, used an "AR-platform-style weapon" in the shooting, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. Nine other people sustained non-fatal injuries.
Who said what
The GBI identified the victims as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday night that the suspected shooter, Colt Grey, and his father had been questioned by local law enforcement in May 2023 in connection with "tips about online threats to commit a school shooting," but "at that time, there was no probable cause for arrest" or other "law enforcement action."
Winder, a growing exurb about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, "now enters the annals of American communities forever scarred by mass gun violence," including Uvalde, Texas; Newtown, Connecticut; and Parkland, Florida, The Washington Post said. "In interviews Wednesday, students did not appear to be terribly surprised that the bloodshed had visited their campus." This was the 24th school shooting of 2024 and the first of the 2024-25 academic year, according to the Post. "Georgia's gun laws," the Post said, are considered "among the nation's weakest."
What next?
Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, the GBI said. Authorities did not say where or how the teen obtained the AR-15-style rifle, a common weapon in school shootings. All Barrow County public schools will be closed for the rest of the week.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Peter Mandelson called Epstein his 'best pal' in birthday note
Speed Read The UK's ambassador to Washington described the late convicted paedophile as an 'intelligent, sharp-witted man'
-
'Vampire energy' could be causing your electric bill to rise
Under the Radar Wasted energy could account for up to 10% of home use
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September movies
the week recommends This month's new releases include 'Spinal Tap II,' 'One Battle After Another' and 'The Long Walk'
-
Colleges are being overwhelmed with active shooter hoaxes
In the Spotlight More than a dozen colleges have reported active shooter prank calls
-
2 kids killed in shooting at Catholic school mass
Speed Read 17 others were wounded during a morning mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
-
7 charged in LA for 'largest jewelry heist in US history'
Speed Read The purported thieves stole an estimated $100 million worth of items
-
Teenage girl kills 2 in Wisconsin school shooting
Speed Read 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow fatally shot a teacher and student at Abundant Life Christian School
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
-
UnitedHealthcare CEO killed in 'brazen, targeted' hit
Speed Read Police are conducting a massive search for Brian Thompson's shooter
-
Texas set to execute dad in disputed 'shaken baby' case
Speed Read Robert Roberson's hotly contested execution would be the first ever tied to shaken baby syndrome