4 Killed in Georgia High School Mass Shooting: Here’s What to Know

Four people have been killed and nine others shot following a school shooting at a Georgia high school Wednesday.

Authorities said two students and two teachers were killed by a 14-year old student at the school, identified as Colt Gray, after Gray opened fire at Apalachee High School Wednesday morning. Law enforcement apprehended Gray after being called to the school with reports of an active shooter around 10:20 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities said Gray “gave up” and “immediately surrendered” and got on the ground after officers arrived “within minutes” of being called.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, who was born and raised in the county, said that his “heart hurt” for the community. 

“I went to school in this school system. My kids go to this school system. I’m proud of this school system,” he said. “My heart hurts for these kids, my heart hurts for our community, but I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county. I want that to be very clear and known. Love will prevail over what happened today, I assure you of that.”

During an earlier press conference in front of the school Wednesday afternoon, Smith said “What you see behind us is an evil thing today.”

TIME has reached out to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office, and other local authorities, for comment. 

The FBI, GBI, and the Barrow County Sheriff's Office are investigating the shooting. Law enforcement said Gray will be charged with murder and tried as an adult.

“The priority right now for us within this investigation is to gather all the facts to make sure that we're accurate with it, because this is a murder investigation,” said Chris Hosey, the director of GBI said at the press conference.

Video footage earlier on Wednesday on the scene showed students evacuating, multiple ambulances, and police congregating outside the school, which reportedly has close to 1,900 students.

Read more: Politicians React to Deadly Mass Shooting at Georgia High School

Authorities said schools in Barrow County will be closed for the rest of the week and grief counseling will be made available.

Officials release statements

Governor Brian Kemp has released a statement on X.

“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,” Kemp wrote.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the shooting at a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon: “This week, kids across the country are heading back to school for the new school year. Today is supposed to be an exciting day for students and parents, but instead we’re seeing yet another horrific shooting.”

She added that the administration's “hearts are with the families in Winder” and that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both been briefed and will continue to work with state and local law enforcement officials.

President Joe Biden said that, “we cannot continue to accept this as normal” in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. 

“Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all of the survivors whose lives are forever changed,” he wrote. “After decades of inaction, Republicans in Congress must finally say ‘enough is enough’ and work with Democrats to pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers.”