Four dead, nine injured in Georgia high school shooting

ATLANTA — Four people were killed and nine others were hospitalized following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday afternoon.

One person was detained, the state agency confirmed.

Barrow Sheriff Jud Smith said early Wednesday afternoon that the investigation was being updated “by the minute.” Federal and state agencies were assisting in the investigation.

“First and foremost, I want to lift up our community,” Smith said. “I want to express my sympathy to our community, our school system, our children, our parents who had to witness this.”

According to the Barrow Sheriff’s Office, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the school around 10:20 a.m. The school was placed on lockdown after reports of a shooting.

At 10:23 a.m., 11th-grade student Henry van der Walt texted his mother: “I think there’s been a shooting at school.”

A few minutes later, Becky van der Walt received another message.

“I love you,” Henry wrote.

The exchange of texts was likely repeated hundreds of times over a chaotic few hours for students and parents alike. Students were led out of the school, where parents rushed to find them.

As details were gradually confirmed throughout the day, the sheriff said he expected to have more information late Wednesday evening.

“It will take several days to find an answer,” he said during a news conference near the school shortly after 1 p.m.

Barrow Coroner Kenneth Cooper said early Wednesday afternoon he could not confirm the details of those killed.

One gunshot victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, the hospital confirmed Wednesday afternoon. Two other victims were taken to regional hospitals in Barrow and Gainesville, according to Northeast Georgia Medical System. The hospital in Barrow was also treating people suffering from anxiety or panic attacks.

Footage from WSB-TV’s NewsChopper 2 showed large crowds of students pouring into the high school stadium during the lockdown. Several ambulances were also on the scene. By late morning, students were released to their families, and school officials said buses would be running for those who needed a ride home.

Terrified parents rushed to the school. Many were forced to park their cars and walk to the school grounds, searching for their children.

Alexsandra Romero, a sophomore at Apalachee, said she was in her second period when another student rushed in and yelled for everyone to lie down.

“At first I didn’t write to my family because I thought it was just a drill,” Romero told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Romero said that because the school had prepared for such a scenario, she and her classmates knew what to do.

“I just remember my hands were shaking,” Romero said. “I felt bad because everyone was crying, everyone was trying to find their siblings.”

Romero said as she was led out of the building she saw blood and a gun on the ground.

“I can still see it all in my mind: the blood, the screams and everything,” Romero said.

Apalachee High was the only school to be released as of noon Wednesday. The remaining Barrow County schools will remain on soft lockdown “for everyone’s safety at this time,” the school district said.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting, the White House said, and his administration planned to work with federal, state and local authorities. Gov. Brian Kemp said he had directed all available state resources to respond to the high school, which is about 8 miles east of Dacula and southwest of Winder.

“(I) urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state,” Kemp added. “We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners as we gather information and respond to this situation.”

FBI Atlanta said it was aware of the shooting and that agents were on the scene to coordinate and assist local authorities. GBI agents were also responding, and the state agency urged everyone to stay away from the area.

According to the Georgia Department of Education, Apalachee High had just over 1,900 students in March. The department said it is also monitoring the situation.

“I am devastated to hear of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School today,” Richard Woods, state superintendent of schools, said in a statement. “My heart and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected and the entire Barrow County community. This is an unimaginable loss for Barrow and our entire educational community across the state.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also issued a statement after the shooting.

“My prayers are with the high school students, staff and families affected by the senseless act of violence in Winder, Georgia,” he said. “I have reached out to Chief (Darin) Schierbaum and the Atlanta Police Department has worked with the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department to increase patrols around our schools for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution.

“APD is also on standby in case law enforcement needs assistance in connection with this incident. May God comfort the victims and their loved ones in the difficult days ahead.”

_____

(Journal-Constitution staffers Lexi Baker and Henri Hollis also contributed to this article.)