A tragic shooting at Appalachia High School in Georgia has left four people dead, including two students and two teachers, with nine others injured.
The gunman, identified as a 14-year-old student named Colt Gary, opened fire randomly, shocking the community and reigniting the national debate over gun control.
The suspect has been taken into custody and is expected to be charged as an adult, according to local authorities.
The weapon used in the attack was an AR-15-style rifle, commonly associated with mass shootings. Investigators revealed that there appears to be no known connection between the shooter and the victims.
The incident took place about an hour from Atlanta and prompted an immediate lockdown of all schools in the county. The shooter surrendered to law enforcement upon their arrival at the scene.
This tragedy adds to the growing toll of mass shootings in the U.S. In 2024 alone, there have been 385 mass shootings, averaging 1.5 incidents per day, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
In response to the shooting, President Joe Biden expressed his sorrow and condemned the continuing gun violence plaguing the country.
He described the start of the school year, typically a time of excitement, as a reminder of the horrors caused by rampant gun violence.
Biden emphasized that students across the nation are learning how to hide from gunfire rather than focus on their education.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed that multiple individuals were injured and that authorities are working to reunite students with their families.
The first emergency call reporting the active shooter was received around 10:20 a.m., after which police quickly responded and secured the scene.
Images circulating online show students and staff being evacuated to a nearby football field. Emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters, and medical personnel, arrived at the school shortly after 10:23 a.m. The FBI also sent agents to assist local law enforcement with the investigation.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp stated that all available state resources have been deployed to respond to the incident. He urged residents of Georgia to join him in praying for the safety of students across the state.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland described the event as devastating and offered the Department of Justice’s full support to assist the families affected by the tragedy. One of the injured victims is currently being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
