In a tragic incident at Apalachee High School in Georgia, students are sharing their harrowing experiences after a 14-year-old opened fire. The shooting on Wednesday claimed the lives of two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, as well as two teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie. Thankfully, at least nine other individuals are recovering in the hospital.
Authorities have taken the suspected shooter, Colt Gray, into custody. He is anticipated to face murder charges and be tried as an adult.
One 14-year-old student recounted his close call with danger. Speaking to WPRI.com, he described how he immediately ran for safety when the gunfire erupted. “I dove behind my desk, and my teacher shielded me,” he shared. “The gunshots were deafening. The whole classroom was filled with smoke.”
After the shooter left, the teacher barricaded the door. “When I stood up again, I saw one of my classmates on the floor, bleeding,” he added, reflecting on the traumatic experience. “I keep replaying it in my head and feel grateful I wasn’t hit.”
Another boy, who was listening to music, felt the urgency of the situation when his friend pushed him to the ground. “At first, I thought it was a prank until I heard the shots and screams,” he told FOX 5. He described leaving his classroom with his hands raised per police instructions, seeing chaos unfold as they passed a gun and a body.
A young girl mentioned that many students initially thought it was a drill due to regular safety practices, but the reality hit hard when a red light flashed. “Our math teacher was shot and lying in a pool of blood,” she recalled. She expressed her fear and reluctance to return to school, stating, “What I saw is hard to forget, especially seeing my teacher.” She described feeling heightened fear and anxiety during the ordeal, adding that she is still shaken.
In response to the tragedy, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump extended condolences. Harris, during a recent speech in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, emphasized the ongoing concern parents face, saying, “It is outrageous that every day in America, parents worry whether their children will come home alive.”
Former President Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social, stating, “Our hearts are with the victims and families affected by this tragic event in Winder, GA. These precious lives were taken too soon by a deranged individual.”