At least four people — two students and two teachers — were killed in a gun attack at a school in US’ Georgia on Wednesday. Police have arrested a 14-year-old male suspect, reports said.
Apart from those killed, over a dozen others sustained injuries and at least one person was evacuated in an air ambulance. The deceased were identified as Mason Schermerhorn, age 14 (student), Christian Angulo, age 14 (student), Richard Aspinwall, age 39 (teacher), and Christina Irimie, age 53 (teacher).
“At approximately 10:23 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 in a statement.
According to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect has been taken into custody.
The incident took place at the Apalachee High School, which is located in Winder, a town about 70 kilometers northeast of Atlanta, the state capital.
“We have agents on site assisting local, state, and federal law enforcement w/ the investigation. One suspect in custody,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a post on social media. “Law enforcement has arrived. Please do not attempt to come to the school at this time while officers work to secure the area.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp took to social media to condole the incident and said he and his family were heartbroken.
President Joe Biden condemned the “senseless gun violence” in an official statement.
“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. 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. Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal.
“We are closely coordinating with officials at the federal, state and local level, and are grateful for the first responders who brought the suspect into custody and prevented further loss of life.
“Ending this gun violence epidemic is personal to me. It’s why I signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the most meaningful gun safety bill in decades – and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions. I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris. We’ve made significant progress, but this crisis requires even more.
“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. These measures will not bring those who were tragically killed today back, but it will help prevent more tragic gun violence from ripping more families apart,” the US President said.
