Nine others were injured in the shooting, according to authorities.
As reported by NBC News, the suspect, a 14-year-old student, was apprehended alive following the shooting at Apalachee High School. Chris Hosey, the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, confirmed the suspect's arrest during a news conference held late Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect gave himself up to law enforcement without resistance, according to Hosey. "He gave up, got on the ground and the deputy took him into custody,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith added. The young suspect is cooperating with authorities and will face murder charges as an adult, as per Hosey and Smith.
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The incident was described by Smith as a "hateful event" and an act of "pure evil." He confirmed that all nine individuals taken to hospitals had suffered gunshot wounds. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with Smith stating, "I don't know why it happened. I may not ever know. We may not ever know."
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The authorities are also uncertain about any potential warning signs or how the shooter obtained and smuggled the firearm into the school. Smith had earlier stated that it would take "multiple days" to piece together the events of the tragic day.
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In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, efforts were focused on reuniting students with their parents. The first call reporting an "active shooter" was received around 10:30 a.m., according to Smith. Hosey added that law enforcement officers and two school resource officers were on the scene within minutes of the alert.
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The incident prompted a "soft lockdown" across all campuses of Barrow County Schools, with the majority of the activity centered around Apalachee High School. Students were directed to the school's football stadium for safety.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his concern, stating, "I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state."
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President Joe Biden mourned the loss of lives and used the incident to urge Congress to pass gun safety legislation. “What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” Biden said.
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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his devastation for the affected families and assured that the Justice Department was ready to provide support.
Apalachee High School, which has been in session since August 1, will remain closed for the rest of the week, according to Barrow County Schools Superintendent Dallas LeDuff. The school, which opened in 2000, is the second high school in Barrow County.
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FBI agents from Atlanta were dispatched to assist local authorities in the investigation. As the community grapples with this tragic event, questions about school safety, gun control, and the wellbeing of students and teachers remain more pertinent than ever.
