Georgia high school shooting/ Apalachee High shooting/ Barrow County shooting aftermath/ Newslooks/ Atlanta/ Most students in Georgia’s Barrow County will return to school six days after a shooting at Apalachee High School killed two teachers and two students. While Apalachee remains closed, nearby schools will reopen with extra security and counseling support.
Georgia School Shooting Aftermath: Quick Looks
- Return to School: Barrow County schools reopen Tuesday, except Apalachee High.
- Security Measures: Extra security and counseling provided at all schools.
- Community Mourning: Victims include two teachers and two students, ages 14.
- Shooter Charged: Colt Gray, 14, faces multiple murder charges; his father also charged.
- Support Efforts: Recovery center and GoFundMe campaigns aid victims and families.
Georgia School District Resumes Classes Post-Shooting Tragedy
Deep Look
Students in Barrow County, Georgia will return to their classrooms on Tuesday, nearly a week after a devastating shooting at Apalachee High School claimed the lives of two teachers and two students. The attack, which shocked the community northeast of Atlanta, left many grieving and uncertain about returning to school. While the 1,900 students at Apalachee High remain at home, the district’s other 13,000 students will resume classes, including those at schools near the high school campus in Winder.
Superintendent Dallas LeDuff shared a message with the community on Sunday, reassuring parents and students that additional security measures would be in place when schools reopen. Deputies from the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and state troopers will be stationed at various campuses to ensure safety, while counseling services will be available to help students and staff cope with the tragedy. LeDuff also encouraged families who feel they are not ready to return to contact their school principal for additional support.
“We know the days ahead are going to be difficult,” LeDuff said in his video message. “We have some staff and students who are not ready to return, but we must provide a safe space for those who are.”
For many in the community, the return to normalcy will take time. Sabrina Masters Reed, a third-grade teacher at Holsenback Elementary School, participated in grief and trauma training ahead of the reopening. She noted that while some students might be hesitant to return, others will need to go back to school, especially those whose parents must work. Reed, who leads the Barrow County chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators, reflected on the shock still rippling through the county of 90,000 people. Many residents had chosen to live there because they believed it was a safe community, she said.
“I still believe Barrow County is a safe place,” Reed said. “But these tragedies can happen anywhere in the U.S., and that’s a sad reality.”
The victims of the shooting include teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. A memorial service for Aspinwall was held on Sunday, and a Romanian Orthodox Church congregation paid tribute to Irimie. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
The alleged shooter, Colt Gray, also 14, has been charged as an adult with four counts of murder. District Attorney Brad Smith suggested that more charges could follow, related to the other victims who were injured. Investigators have also charged Colin Gray, Colt’s 54-year-old father, with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children. Authorities claim that Colin Gray gave his son access to the gun, knowing that the teenager posed a danger to himself and others.
In addition to the four fatalities, the shooting left another eight individuals wounded, including seven students who were hit by gunfire. More of the injured are being discharged from hospitals. Among them is Natalie Griffith, a 15-year-old freshman and band member who was shot in her algebra class. Her father, Doug Griffith, shared that she had recently been released from the hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds to her arm and wrist.
“She’s got an A in algebra, and she’s extremely proud of that,” Griffith said, highlighting his daughter’s academic dedication despite the trauma she endured.
Griffith, like many families affected by the shooting, is turning to the community for support. He is one of several relatives using GoFundMe to raise money for ongoing medical and emotional recovery. “I want to make sure Natalie has all the help she needs,” Griffith explained, noting the unfamiliar challenges ahead.
To assist families and the wider community, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency opened a community recovery center in Winder on Monday. The center offers a range of services, including counseling, legal assistance, and financial aid, to those affected by the tragedy.
As Barrow County schools reopen, the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the violence, seeking ways to heal while ensuring safety for students and staff.
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