The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that at least four people died and nine were injured during a shooting at the Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday.
Authorities say that a suspect is in custody.
At around 10:30 a.m., “officers from multiple law enforcement agencies and Fire/EMS personnel were dispatched to the high school in reference to a reported active shooting,” the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office said. “Casualties have been reported, however details on the number or their conditions is not available at this time,” the statement added.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said on social media that its agents are responding to a shooting at the school, later confirming the number of fatalities.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith told a news conference at around 1 p.m. ET that officials are investigating the shooting but cautioned that details about the incident “is very fluid” and might not be forthcoming.
“Please let us get the facts that we need to make sure we get this right,” he told a news conference, asking the media for ”their patience.“ ”This is going to take multiple days for us to get answers as to what happened and why this happened.”
Describing a “chaotic” post-shooting situation at the high school, Smith also said that he was not going to answer questions after the news conference’s conclusion. “This is going to take multiple days” to figure out what happened, he also said.
Apalachee High School was “cleared for dismissal” and all other Barrow County Schools are on a “soft lockdown” on Wednesday, the Barrow County School System said.
WSB-TV helicopter footage taken at the scene showed throngs of students, staff, and parents gathered outside the school in the football stadium. Numerous law enforcement and emergency vehicles were seen on campus, the footage shows.
The governor said that his office will “work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation.”
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a Facebook post that a suspect is in custody.
The school is located around 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, the state’s largest city and capital. Because of the area’s proximity to Atlanta, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced that more patrols will be sent to area schools for the remainder of Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution.”
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), who represents the district that encompasses Winder, issued a statement about the incident shortly after it unfolded.
The lawmaker said he has “spoken with Sheriff Smith and told him my team and I are available to assist in any way necessary. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as prudent.”
The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident and is coordinating with law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level.
“I’m devastated for the families who have been affected,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Wednesday, describing the incident as a “terrible tragedy.”
The Epoch Times contacted the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation for comment but received no word back by press time.
