Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith reacted with horror to the shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, calling the event an act of “pure evil.”
Authorities identified Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at the school, as the shooter who killed two students and two teachers.
Nine victims were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“My heart aches for these kids, my heart aches for this community, but I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county,” Sheriff Smith said during a news conference Wednesday.
‘Love will prevail over what happened today, I assure you.’
Smith said he was born and raised in the county and was once a student in the Barrow County School System, which includes Apalachee High School.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith is pictured speaking to the media following the shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. He called the shooting “pure evil” and assured the community that “love will prevail.”
The high school, which serves about 1,900 students, is located in the town of Winder, about 25 miles west of Athens.
Smith also revealed his personal connection to the school, saying he attended the Barrow County school system as a child. Now his children are enrolled in the same system.
“My children go to this school system. I’m proud of this school system,” he said.
The high school, which serves about 1,900 students, is in the town of Winder, about 25 miles west of Athens.
Smith did not speculate on the shooter’s motive or mention him by name in his brief address to reporters.
It has been revealed that Gray will be charged with murder and will be tried as an adult.
“I don’t know why this happened. I may never know. We may never know, but I ask that you and our community support our schools, our public safety, and once again not allow this hateful event to stand.”
He thanked Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for offering support, as well as the host of state, local and federal agencies that assisted in the response to the shooting.
“They prevented many more tragic events from happening,” he said.
Students were evacuated to the football stadium after shots were fired at the school.
A crowd of students wait to be picked up by their parents after the shooting.
Pictured: Heavily armed police officers were seen entering the school on Wednesday morning.
Smith also confirmed that the school resource officer confronted the shooter, who eventually turned himself in to police.
“The shooter quickly realized that if he didn’t give up, it would end in an officer-involved shooting. He gave up, got on the ground and was detained by the officer,” he said.
Smith repeatedly said the investigation was in its early stages and could not answer a question about how the shooter obtained his gun, nor identify the type of weapon he used.
He added that authorities do not know if Gray had any specific targets and would not confirm whether Gray had any connection to any of the victims.
However, more information should soon come to light, as Smith revealed that the shooter was interviewed by police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
So far, the only victim who has been identified is special education math teacher David Phenix, who survived but was rushed to the hospital after being shot in the hip and foot.
Phenix has been a teacher for 22 years. He had intended to retire in 2023, but Apalachee approached him about taking over as golf coach.
Police first received reports of the shooting at the high school around 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time.
Phenix’s daughter Katie revealed Wednesday that he “arrived at the hospital alert and awake” and was taken straight into surgery.
“He just came out of surgery and is stable,” he said.
Phenix, who has been teaching for 22 years, had intended to retire in 2023 but decided to stay when he was offered the opportunity to coach golf.
Before the sheriff’s office received the first reports of a shooting around 10:20 a.m. ET, the high school received a threat by phone, CNN reported.
The caller reportedly claimed there would be shootings at five schools and Apalachee would be the first.
Authorities said there were no other shootings other than the one in Apalachee and that they will investigate the source of the call.
An aerial view of the scene outside the high school after the shooting.
Pictured: An injured victim receives help from emergency services following the shooting.
Gov. Kemp said he was “heartbroken” by the shooting, adding that his office “will continue to work closely with local, state and federal partners to put every resource available to help this community on this incredibly difficult day and in the days ahead.”
Presidential candidates have also addressed the heinous crime, with Vice President Kamala Harris calling it a “senseless tragedy.”
“We need to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country once and for all. It doesn’t have to be this way,” he added.
Former President Donald Trump called the shooter a “deranged monster.”
“Our hearts go out to the victims and the loved ones of those affected by the tragic event in Winder, Georgia. These precious children were taken from us far too soon by a sick and deranged monster,” she wrote on Truth Social.
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