Four people were killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday. The suspect is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
At least four people are dead and nine others have been injured in a horrific shooting at Apalachee High School in north central Georgia on Wednesday.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that four people died at the high school, which is located approximately 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. Nine others were taken to various hospitals, all of them suffering from gunshot wounds.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
The suspect is alive and in custody, but their identity has not yet been released.
The shooting sent shockwaves through the community and the nation, prompting an outpouring of grief and outrage.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
President Biden issued a statement condemning the violence and calling for action on gun control.
"Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed," Biden said.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
"Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal."
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also expressed his condolences and pledged to provide state resources to support the investigation and recovery.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
"We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation," Kemp said.
The Barrow County Sheriff's Office said it received a call of an active shooter at 9:30 a.m. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded to the scene within minutes.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
Sheriff Judd Smith said he first received a call of an active shooter at 9:30 a.m. He confirmed that there were "multiple injuries."
Smith said law enforcement officials were conducting a "very, very fluid investigation" and asked for patience from the media to let them gather the facts. He predicted that it will take "multiple days" to figure out what happened and how.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
Students were evacuated from the school and taken to a nearby football stadium to reunite with their parents.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also assisting in the investigation.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
The identities of the deceased and wounded victims have not been released, but one woman came forward to say her father was shot.
In a public Facebook post on Wednesday, a woman named Katie Phenix said her father, David Phenix, had been shot at the school.
Tragic Shooting at Georgia High School Leaves Four Dead, Nine Injured
"We are so thankful for all the texts, calls, and messages about my dad, David Phenix," the daughter wrote. "There was a shooting this morning at Apalachee High School and my dad was shot in the foot and in the hip, shattering his hip bone."
"He arrived to the hospital alert and awake. He just got out of surgery and is stable," she added. "We will update as we hear new information. We are so, so lucky, but please keep our family as well as the AHS family in your prayers."
The shooting has reignited the debate over gun control in the United States. Biden called for an end to the "gun violence epidemic," while other politicians and activists echoed his sentiments.
The tragedy at Apalachee High School is a reminder of the devastating toll that gun violence takes on our communities. It is a senseless and preventable loss of life that must serve as a wake-up call to action.
