Students, teachers killed in attack identified – South Arkansas Sun

Two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting Wednesday morning at a high school in Winder, Georgia, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, were killed in the attack at Apalachee High School, officials said at a news conference Wednesday evening. Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, 14, were also killed.

Nine more victims, eight students and one teacher, were taken to hospitals with injuries after the shooting, the GBI said. All are expected to survive.

Suspect Colt Gray, 14, of Apalachee, is in custody and was expected to be charged with murder Wednesday night, the GBI said, adding that he will be tried as an adult. Authorities said he used an AR-style weapon in the attack.

Meanwhile, friends and families of his alleged victims are only just beginning to come to terms with their loss.

According to the school’s website, both Aspinwall and Irimie taught math.

Screenshot/Apalachee High School

Aspinwall also served as the defensive coordinator for the Apalachee High School football team.

“He was a great dad, man and father,” coach Mike Hancock said. Athens Banner-Herald“He loved his two daughters and he loved his wife. He happened to love the game of football and was very well respected in that area.”

Aspinwall was previously a teacher and coach at Lawrenceville, Georgia’s Mountain View High School. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former Mountain View High School teacher and coach Ricky Aspinwall, who lost his life at Apalachee High School today,” the Mountain View High School athletic department said on its Facebook page.

The mother of Schermerhorn, who had autism, confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the man was one of the shooting victims after his family initially shared a photo of him on social media when they were unable to contact him following the shooting.

“He really enjoyed life,” said Doug Kilburn, a family friend. New York Times“He always had an optimistic outlook on everything.” Family friends told the newspaper that Schermerhorn enjoyed reading, telling jokes, playing video games and going to Walt Disney World.

Angulo’s sister, Lisette, wrote on a GoFundMe page raising money for the family’s funeral costs that Angulo was “a very good kid, very sweet and caring.”

Angulo Family/GoFundMe

“He was so loved by so many,” she added. “His loss was so sudden and unexpected. We are truly heartbroken. He truly did not deserve this.” A fundraiser for Angulo has already collected more than $33,000 in donations.

“This is everyone’s worst nightmare,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said at a news conference Wednesday evening. “I just want to offer my heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured and those who continue to struggle during this tragic time.”