Quick Hit:

Four victims, including two students and two teachers, have been identified following a deadly school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. The 14-year-old alleged shooter, Colt Gray, is in custody.

Key Details:

• Victims include students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, along with teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
• Eight additional students and one teacher were injured but are expected to survive.
• The alleged shooter, Colt Gray, was known to the FBI since 2023.

Diving Deeper:

Authorities have confirmed the identities of four victims who were tragically killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning. The victims were two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. 

According to officials, the alleged shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, opened fire inside the school at around 10:30 a.m. Gray, armed with an AR-15-style weapon, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. He is expected to be charged as an adult.

Aspinwall, one of the victims, was a math teacher and also served as the defensive coordinator for the school's football team. Students and community members are mourning his loss, remembering him as someone who died protecting his students. Sophomore player Isaiah Hooks told Fox 5 Atlanta, "It’s just so hard to think that somebody that you spent so much time with, like family, is gone."

Angulo was described by his sister as "a very good kid" who was loved by many. A friend of Angulo, Abner Sanchez, shared his disbelief upon learning of his friend’s death, stating, "You would never believe somebody that you knew would pass away just like that." In addition to the four fatalities, eight other students and one teacher were injured in the attack. All are expected to survive, according to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.

Governor Brian Kemp addressed the community in the wake of the tragedy, offering thoughts and prayers to the victims and pledging state resources to assist with recovery efforts.

The FBI revealed that Gray had been on their radar since May 2023, when they received tips about potential threats of a school shooting. However, authorities at the time stated they did not have probable cause to take action against him.

As investigators continue to search for a motive, the community remains in mourning, grappling with the aftermath of this horrific event.