Apalachee High School shooting/ Barrow County shooting timeline/ Georgia high school attack/ Newslooks/ Atlanta/ Georgia/ Key questions remain about the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, including how the 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, brought a semiautomatic rifle to school and his motives. The timeline of events reveals gaps as investigations continue.
Georgia School Shooting Timeline: Quick Looks
- Shooting Details: Two teachers and two students killed; others injured.
- Suspect: Colt Gray, 14, charged with murder; father also charged.
- School Reopenings: Apalachee High remains closed; other district schools reopen.
- Timeline Gaps: Questions persist about how the rifle entered campus and the motive.
- Emergency Response: School lockdown initiated after shots fired; suspect surrendered.
Georgia School Shooting Timeline Leaves Many Questions Unresolved
Deep Look
The tragic school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, 2024, left two teachers and two students dead, while another teacher and eight more students were wounded. Despite law enforcement’s rapid response and the suspect’s arrest, many crucial details about the attack remain unclear. Questions persist about how the 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, managed to bring a semiautomatic rifle onto the school grounds and what may have motivated him to carry out the deadly assault.
Gray is currently facing charges of four counts of murder and could face additional charges related to the wounded, according to District Attorney Brad Smith. Gray’s father, Colin Gray, has also been charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children for allegedly giving his son access to the firearm, despite knowing that the teenager posed a danger to himself and others.
As the investigation unfolds, the community of Barrow County continues to mourn the loss of teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, both highly respected educators, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Grieving families, friends, and colleagues are left with unanswered questions, including how and why the violence erupted.
Timeline of Events: The Day of the Shooting
8:15 a.m. — First Period Begins
The school day begins at Apalachee High School. Officials have yet to confirm if Colt Gray attended his scheduled first-period class, or if he arrived on campus carrying the weapon.
9:38 a.m. — First Period Ends
Students move to their next class during the seven-minute break. It remains unclear if Gray was on campus or where he went during this period.
9:45 a.m. — Second Period Begins
Students, including Lyela Sayarath, take their seats in an algebra class where Gray is also enrolled. Sayarath reported that Gray briefly entered the classroom before leaving without explanation. She assumed he was skipping class, though his whereabouts remain unknown at this time.
9:50 a.m. — Mother’s Call to Warn School
Gray’s mother, Marcee Gray, who was 200 miles away in Fitzgerald, Georgia, placed a call to the school, warning them of her son’s “extreme emergency.” According to call logs and family interviews, Marcee urgently asked school counselors to locate her son. She had also received a text from Colt that morning, apologizing, though the nature of the apology remains unclear.
9:45 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. — Administrator Seeks Colt Gray
During this time, an administrator entered the algebra classroom, mistakenly looking for another student with a similar name. This confusion delayed efforts to find Gray. By 10:20 a.m., Gray appeared outside the classroom door.
10:20 a.m. — Gunshots Erupt
As the intercom buzzed to further inquire about Gray, the teacher noted that he had returned to the classroom. However, as students went to open the locked door, they hesitated when they saw Gray through the window. Moments later, gunfire erupted. Witnesses reported hearing 10 to 15 shots in rapid succession. Teachers and students scrambled for safety, while reports indicate that the two slain teachers were shot while trying to shield students.
10:23 a.m. — School Lockdown Initiated
School employees activated panic buttons embedded in their badges, initiating a lockdown. Law enforcement officers, including two school resource officers, rushed to the scene. Students trapped in classrooms texted and called their parents as the terrifying situation unfolded.
10:26 a.m. — Colt Gray Surrenders
GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed that officers quickly approached Gray in the hallway. The suspect surrendered without resistance and was taken into custody.
11:00 a.m. — Police Search Gray Family’s Home
As part of the investigation, law enforcement began searching the Gray family home located east of Winder. Meanwhile, officers at the school conducted a thorough search for additional shooters or injured individuals, ensuring that the campus was safe before evacuating students.
1:00 p.m. — Students Released to Parents
Parents arrived at the school in large numbers to pick up their children. By early afternoon, students were being released from the football field, where they had been temporarily evacuated.
Investigations Continue
Despite the detailed timeline provided by authorities, many critical questions remain. How did Colt Gray manage to bring a semiautomatic assault rifle onto school grounds without detection? What drove him to commit such a violent act? Investigators are continuing to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, seeking answers that may provide clarity to the victims’ families and the wider community.
While Apalachee High School remains closed, 13,000 students from Barrow County’s other schools are scheduled to return to class on Tuesday. Superintendent Dallas LeDuff assured parents and staff that extra security would be in place, with counseling available for anyone struggling to cope with the tragedy.
The Apalachee High community, still grappling with shock and grief, awaits further developments as the investigation progresses.
