A suspect is in custody after a number of individuals have been injured throughout an “energetic shooter scenario” on Wednesday at Apalachee Excessive Faculty in Winder.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed “a number of accidents” however didn’t say how many individuals have been damage or clarify the extent of their accidents, in accordance with reporting from USA At this time. He declined to say whether or not anyone was killed.
“It is a very, very fluid investigation,” Smith mentioned in a information convention, including that officers would give extra data at 4 p.m.
“What you see behind us is an evil factor,” Smith mentioned from in entrance of the varsity, famous USA At this time.
Grady Hospital in Atlanta has obtained at the least one gunshot wound sufferer from Apalachee Excessive Faculty, in accordance with reporting from USA At this time. However different media retailers are reporting dozens extra accidents.
Apalachee Excessive Faculty directors at about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday despatched a message to folks noting that the varsity was “in a tough lockdown after studies of gunfire.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI had brokers on web site, in accordance with social media posts from these authorities.
“The GBI has responded to a capturing at Apalachee Excessive Faculty in Barrow County,” famous the company on Fb. “We’ve brokers on web site aiding native, state, and federal legislation enforcement with the continued investigation. One suspect is in custody.”
What others are saying
“I’ve directed all out there state sources to reply to the incident at Apalachee Excessive Faculty and urge all Georgians to affix my household in praying for the security of these in our school rooms, each in Barrow County and throughout the state,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted on X. “We’ll proceed to work with native, state, and federal companions as we collect data and additional reply to this example.”
President Joe Biden additionally responded to the capturing.
“President Biden has been briefed by his Homeland Safety Advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, on the tragic capturing at Apalachee Excessive Faculty in Winder, Georgia and his administration will proceed coordinating with federal, state, and native officers as we obtain extra data,” the White Home advised USA At this time.
The college is one in all two excessive faculties within the Barrow County college system. Different close by faculties have been positioned into lockdown as a precaution, famous the Barrow County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Clarke County Faculty District Superintendent Robbie Hooker mentioned college students, dad and mom and workers at Athens faculties may see a bigger police presence in the intervening time as they’re sustaining a “heightened situational consciousness.”
“We’re conscious of the occasions occurring at Apalachee Excessive Faculty in close by Barrow County,” Hooker famous in an e-mail to folks. “We’re very carefully monitoring the scenario and are in communication with native legislation enforcement as properly. Our ideas and prayers are with our mates and neighbors in Barrow County.”
Return to this story for updates as extra data turns into out there. USA At this time contributed to this report.