As investigators work to determine a motive behind Wednesday’s deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, they said they’re also seeking answers about the weapon allegedly used by the 14-year-old suspect.
Two teachers and two students were killed: math teacher and football coach Richard Aspinwall, 39; math teacher Christina Irimie, 53; and students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14, officials said.
Eight students and one teacher were injured, officials said. All of the injured victims are expected to recover, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.
Women cry while attending a vigil at Jug Tavern Park following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., Sept. 4, 2024.
Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
The 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, a student at the school, surrendered at the scene to the school resource officers and was taken into custody, the GBI said.
Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, the GBI said.
He was being held Thursday morning at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, the Department of Juvenile Justice told Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. Gray will appear in court virtually on Friday.
Parents walk their child out of Apalachee High School after a shooting at the school, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga.
Mike Stewart/AP
Police officers on the scene of a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, Sept. 4, 2024.
Erik S Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
An AR-platform-style weapon was used in the shooting, according to GBI Director Chris Hosey.
Officials said they did not yet have answers for how Gray was allegedly able to obtain the gun and get it into the school. Gray was interviewed by investigators and the GBI, but Smith did not disclose further details.
A motive has not yet been determined and it is unknown if the victims were targeted, investigators said.
Teachers at the high school had IDs that alert law enforcement during an active incident — a new safety system that was implemented just one week ago, the sheriff said.
People leave Apalachee High School, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Winder, Ga.
Mike Stewart/AP
People hold candles while attending a vigil at Jug Tavern Park following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, 2024.
Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
In May 2023, authorities interviewed the suspect, who was then 13, about alleged threats to commit a school shooting, according to the FBI.
The FBI said it received anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting and the online threats contained photos of guns.
The boy’s dad told authorities he had hunting rifles in the house, saying, “Colt is allowed to use them when supervised but does not have unfettered access to them,” according to the report obtained by WSB.
Students and faculty as well as community members gather for a vigil after a shooting at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4, 2024 in Winder, Ga.
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When the 13-year-old was interviewed, he “assured me that he never made any threats to shoot up any school,” an officer wrote, according to the report obtained by WSB.
“I could not substantiate the tip I received from the FBI to take further action,” an officer wrote in his report. “At this time, due to the inconsistent nature of the information received by the FBI, the allegation that Colt or [his father] is the user behind the Discord account that made the threat cannot be substantiated.”
“At that time, there was no probable cause for arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action on the local, state, or federal levels,” the FBI said on Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said it “alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the subject.”
ABC News’ Alex Faul, Josh Margolin, Brandon Baur, Faith Abubey, Miles Cohen, Meredith Deliso and Jessica Gorman contributed to this report.
Source: abc news
