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ATLANTA, Ga. — A school shooting at Appalachia High School in Winder, Georgia, left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured on Wednesday morning after 14-year-old student Colt Grey opened fire on his classmates and teachers. The incident, which occurred at a high school located about 50 minutes northeast of Atlanta, has once again highlighted the tragic gun violence epidemic in American schools.

Around 10:30 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began receiving multiple phone calls reporting an active shooter at the school. According to a student, the teenage gunman left his Algebra class and tried returning but found the door locked. A classmate walked to the door to open the door for Grey but backed away. “I’m guessing they saw something, but for some reason, they didn’t open the door,” Lyela Sayarath told the Associated Press. Blocked from entering, Grey began firing in the school hallway, striking several individuals.

Georgia Shooting Victims Identified

The identities of the four victims have been confirmed by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey as Richard Aspinwall, a math teacher and assistant football coach; Christina Irimie, a statistics teacher; and students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and Christian Angulo, 14.

Mason Schermerhorn, a student with a bright future ahead of him, had just shared with friends his excitement about an upcoming family trip to Walt Disney World before his life was tragically cut short. Christina Irimie, 53, was fatally shot in front of her students, who bravely dragged her back into the classroom and barricaded the door in an attempt to protect themselves. Richard Aspinwall, a well-loved teacher and coach, was also among the deceased.

Calls for Action Intensify as Community Leaders Mourn Tragic School Shooting in Georgia

“It’s been one month since school began, and already we’re met with the terror that our children may not make it home alive,” said Karen Sedatole, a volunteer with the Georgia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Thoughts and prayers are empty and meaningless – we need our lawmakers to act. Pass common sense gun laws to protect our children so we don’t have to grieve for empty seats at our dinner tables.”

State School Superintendent Richard Woods expressed his grief over the tragedy, saying, “I am devastated by the news of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School today. 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 for our entire educational community across the state.”

“Kids in Winder, GA, left their homes today, said goodbye to their parents, and will never return home because they were victims of yet another horrific school shooting,” Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, stated. “Guns are the number one killer of kids in the United States. Leaders across this country remain complicit in what can only be described as a national disgrace and an unforgivable failure to our young people.” 

Unanswered Questions Surround Shooter’s Motive at a Georgia School and Access to Firearms

While investigators have not yet disclosed the motive behind the attack, they hope to gain insights since the suspect, who is currently being held at a local juvenile detention center, did not take his own life — a stark contrast to many school shootings where the gunman either commits suicide or is killed by law enforcement.

As the investigation unfolds, questions arise about how the 14-year-old obtained the weapon. In May 2023, the FBI received tips concerning online activity by Colt Grey. During an interview in 2023 by the Jackson County sheriff, Grey’s father admitted to having guns in the house but assured authorities that his son did not have access to them. The sheriff’s office subsequently alerted the school, urging them to monitor the situation.

Vice President Kamala Harris also commented on the tragic event, stating, “Today, Doug and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short by gun violence at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Our hearts are with the students, teachers, and families impacted by this shooting, and we are grateful to the first responders and law enforcement on the scene. This is a senseless tragedy — and it does not have to be this way. We must end the epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all.”

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Broader Implications of Gun Access and School Shootings

This tragic event at a Georgia School is not an isolated case. Studies by the U.S. Secret Service examining targeted school violence over nearly 40 years reveal that 73% of school shooters in the first study and 76% in the second acquired firearms from their home or that of a close relative. Alarmingly, the second study found that in nearly half of the incidents, the firearm was easily accessible or not securely stored. Furthermore, the studies highlighted that 100% of perpetrators exhibited concerning behaviors, with 77% of cases involving at least one person, usually a peer, who was aware of the shooter’s plans.

Research from Everytown for Gun Safety underscores the disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black students. Although they make up approximately 15% of the total K-12 school population, Black students represent 30% of the student body in schools affected by fatal shootings.

As Appalachia High School mourns the loss of its teachers and students, the community grapples with the painful reality of yet another school shooting. This tragedy adds to the growing calls for comprehensive measures to address gun violence and ensure the safety of students across the nation.

Nehemiah D. Frank is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Black Wall Street Times and a descendant of two families that survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Although his publication’s store and newsroom...

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