Tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia: Details and updates
On the morning of September 4, a tragic shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student, allegedly opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle, resulting in the deaths of two teachers and two students, while injuring nine others. Gray, who had been previously investigated for online threats, is now in custody and will face charges as an adult for murder. The community is left grappling with the aftermath as the motivations behind the shooting remain unclear.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at the school, provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the incident. Colt Gray, described as a quiet student who frequently skipped class, was seated next to Sayarath in math class. He briefly left the classroom, only to return minutes later and be denied reentry due to the automatic locking system. Shortly after, gunfire erupted in a nearby classroom. Sayarath recalled, “He never really talked. He wasn’t there most times. Either he didn’t just come to school or he would just skip class,” and added, “Even when he would’ve talked it was just one-word answers or short statements.” She also mentioned, “They almost let him in, but I’m pretty sure she saw that he had a gun and so she backed away,” referring to their teacher’s response when Gray attempted to reenter the classroom. “And then he turned away and that’s when you hear like the first round of fire.”
As panic spread throughout the school, students sought safety by barricading themselves in classrooms. Junior Layla Ferrell and her health class went into a “hard lockdown,” while sophomore Kaylee Abner took cover with classmates in her geometry class. Abner shared, “A classmate beside me was praying, and I held his hand while we waited.” Sophomore Jacob King, who had been dozing off in class, was startled awake by the gunshots and witnessed officers attending to injured students. Senior Ashley Enoh received a heart-wrenching text from her brother amidst the chaos, which read, “Just so you know, I love you.”
Erin Clark, the mother of senior Ethan, rushed to the scene after receiving a text from her son about the active shooter. They exchanged messages of love as she hurried to ensure his safety. “I’m so proud of him,” she stated after finding Ethan safe on the football bleachers. Authorities arrested Gray within minutes of the first shots being fired. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith expressed the communal grief, saying, “My heart hurts for these kids. But love will prevail over what happened today.” Governor Brian Kemp and other leaders extended their condolences, with Kemp acknowledging the depth of the tragedy, referring to it as “a day every parent dreads.”
Last year, Colt Gray had been questioned following anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting. Despite the alarming tips and displayed photos of guns, authorities concluded there was no probable cause for arrest or further action at that time. Sayarath mentioned the eerie similarity between Gray’s demeanor and the stereotypes often associated with school shooters, stating, “Just because of when you think of shooters and how they act or things that they do, it’s normally the quiet kid.”
Following the shooting, Sayarath described the unsettling scene where her friend emerged from the adjacent classroom, covered in blood and visibly shaken. “I saw a whole lot of blood… it was just horrible,” said sophomore Shantal Sanvee. Among the victims was 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn, an autistic student. Gray surrendered to authorities without resistance, and investigations are ongoing to determine how he acquired the firearm. The names of the remaining victims have not been released.
The small town of Winder, located about an hour outside of Atlanta, is now contending with the loss and trauma induced by this violent episode. As authorities continue to search for answers, the community remains united in its grief and efforts to support one another through this difficult time.
