WINDER, GA – Tragedy struck Apalachee High School, northeast of Atlanta, as a shooting on Wednesday led to the death of at least four people and hospitalization of nine others, as reported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Neither the ages nor additional details about the victims were disclosed. The Bureau confirmed a suspect has been brought into custody and refuted circulating reports suggesting the suspect had been neutralized or of shootings at other schools within the area.
Jud Smith, the Sheriff of the local law enforcement, confirmed that they received an active shooter alert Wednesday morning. This led to a swift response by numerous agencies, including firefighters and EMS personnel. During a press conference, the Sheriff downplayed forthcoming information on the victims till a forthcoming second press conference and emphasized the aim to reunite students with their families.
In the aftermath of the shooting and the evacuation process, students converged at the High School’s football stadium. Onlookers reported sighting dozens of law enforcement and emergency vehicles around the area.
Georgia’s Governor, Brian Kemp, took to social media to direct all available resources of the state to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School. He called on the Georgian populace for prayers for the safety of classroom occupants across the state and announced collaborations among local, state, and federal authorities to amass useful information.
President Joe Biden has been briefed about the shooting by his Homeland Security Advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, as confirmed by the White House. The administration is slated to liaise with federal, state, and local officials as more information is revealed.
The incident caused increased patrols in schools around Atlanta, including Apalachee High School, which boasts an enrolment size of circa 1,900 students.