Fox 5 spoke to several students who described the terrifying ordeal of the shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia on Wednesday, where a gunman killed two students and two teachers, leaving nine others injured.
The aftermath of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has left students in shock and mourning. The incident, which left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured, has sent shockwaves through the Barrow County community and beyond. Following the horrific event, Fox 5 reached out to several students who courageously shared their harrowing accounts of the harrowing ordeal.
Apalachee High School Shooting: Students Recount Harrowing Moments
One student, Emily, described the chaos that unfolded as the shooting began. "I was in my English class when we heard a loud noise," she recalled. "We all looked up, and then we heard another noise, and that's when we knew it was gunshots." Panic spread through the classroom as students scrambled for cover, unsure of what to do.
Another student, Michael, witnessed the gunman enter his classroom. "He came in and he just started shooting," Michael said. "He didn't say anything, he didn't ask for anything, he just started firing." Michael and his classmates dove under their desks, desperately trying to avoid being hit.
Apalachee High School Shooting: Students Recount Harrowing Moments
Some students managed to escape the classroom while the shooting was still ongoing. "I heard the shots and I ran," said Lily. "I didn't know where I was going, I just ran as fast as I could." She ran out of the school and hid in a nearby wooded area until the police arrived.
As the shooting subsided, students emerged from their hiding places, many in a state of shock. "I saw people running and screaming," said Sarah. "I saw people with blood on them. It was horrible."
Apalachee High School Shooting: Students Recount Harrowing Moments
The students expressed their condolences for the victims and their families. "It's just so sad," said Emily. "These were our friends, our teachers. They didn't deserve this."
Students also described the bravery of the teachers who shielded them from harm. "Our teacher jumped in front of us and protected us," said Michael. "I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't done that."
Apalachee High School Shooting: Students Recount Harrowing Moments
In the aftermath of the shooting, Apalachee High School has been closed for the remainder of the week. Grief counselors are available to provide support to students and staff. The Barrow County School System has also announced that all schools in the district will be closed on Thursday and Friday out of respect for the victims and their families.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and law enforcement officials are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack. The FBI has confirmed that the alleged shooter, identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray, was known to them as a potential threat since last year after receiving an anonymous tip about possible school shooting threats.
The shooting at Apalachee High School has once again highlighted the tragic toll that gun violence continues to take on American schools. As students return to their classrooms, they carry with them the weight of the horrors they have witnessed. The community of Winder and beyond is grieving the loss of innocent lives and searching for answers to prevent such senseless tragedies in the future.
