What are the authorities saying so far?

A 14-year-old who authorities have identified as a student at Apalachee High School in Georgia has been taken into custody and will be tried as an adult in connection with a shooting that left four people dead.

The suspect, identified as Colt Gray, surrendered to law enforcement Sept. 4 after being confronted at a school in rural Winder following a shooting that left two students and two teachers dead, authorities said. Eight other students and a teacher were injured.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said at a Sept. 4 news conference that the suspect will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult.

What do we know about the suspect?

The suspect was already known to law enforcement, having been questioned last year in connection with threats to shoot up a school, the FBI Atlanta Field Office said in a joint statement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, who was 13 at the time, denied making the threat during questioning. He was contacted after the FBI received anonymous tips about online posts referring to school shootings, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, the boy’s father was also questioned and told authorities he had a hunting gun but his son did not have access to it on his own.

The suspect used an “AR-style platform weapon” in the shooting, Hosey said at a news conference. There is no state law in Georgia that prohibits anyone under 18 from possessing rifles or shotguns.

After interviewing the suspect and his father in 2023, authorities determined there was no probable cause to arrest him. They notified local schools to continue monitoring the suspect, the statement said.

What was the suspect’s motive for shooting?

Law enforcement agencies are interviewing the suspect, his family and witnesses to determine the motive.

In an interview with NBC station WXIA, an Apalachee High School student named Lila said the shooter tried to enter her classroom, but one of the students in the classroom would not open the locked door.

“She moved away. I think she saw him or someone said something, but I’m pretty sure she saw he had a gun, so she moved away,” Lila said.

She also described the suspect as “quiet” and added that he rarely went to school.

“He never really talked. He was pretty quiet,” she told the station. “He was gone most of the time. He either just didn’t come to school or he just skipped class.”

“Even when he wanted to speak, he would respond with one word or a short statement,” she added.

Who were the victims?

Two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were killed along with two math teachers. Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, who was also a soccer coach at the school, were killed in the attack.

“I never imagined in my career that I would be speaking to the media about something that happened today, the pure evil that happened today,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said at a news conference.

“My heart aches for these children. My heart aches for our community. But I want to make it clear that hate will not win.”