At Least 4 Dead in Georgia School Shooting, 14-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

At Least 4 Dead in Georgia School Shooting, 14-Year-Old Suspect Arrested

A gunman opened fire at a high school in Georgia, killing at least four people. The neighborhood was put on "hard lockdown" as police and emergency responders rushed to the scene. The suspect, a 14-year-old boy, has been arrested.

Local reports say several people were injured, and one person was airlifted to a hospital. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that they responded to the shooting.

The Barrow County Sheriff's Office stated that multiple law enforcement officers and emergency personnel were dispatched to the high school around 10:23 a.m. following reports of an active shooter. Many students were evacuated and gathered in a field near the school. Authorities confirmed that the shooter is now in custody.

The suspect, believed to be a 14-year-old boy, opened fire inside Apalachee High School. It is still unclear if the shooter was a student there. CNN reported that, in addition to the four deaths, more than a dozen people were injured. Not all of the injuries were from gunshots; some were hurt while trying to escape.

Apalachee High School, located in Barrow County, Georgia, sent a message to parents saying the school was in "hard lockdown" after reports of gunfire. The school is located in Winder, about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta.

The GBI posted on social media that their agents were on the scene helping local, state, and federal law enforcement with the investigation. They asked the public not to come to the school while the area was being secured.

One student, 17-year-old Sergio Caldera, told ABC News that he was in his chemistry class when he heard gunshots. His teacher opened the door, but another teacher ran in and told them to shut it because there was an active shooter. While they were hiding, someone banged on the door, demanding to be let in. After the knocking stopped, more gunshots and screams were heard. Later, the class evacuated to the school's football field.

Sheriff Jud Smith, during a news conference at the school, said, "What we see behind us is an evil thing today."

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said on social media that state agencies were responding to the incident, and the White House released a statement saying that President Joe Biden had been briefed and that his administration is working with local, state, and federal officials.

The U.S. has experienced hundreds of shootings in schools and colleges over the last two decades. The deadliest occurred at Virginia Tech in 2007, where more than 30 people were killed. These tragedies have led to ongoing debates about gun control and the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to "keep and bear arms."