At least four people have died following a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, today. The incident, which began around 10:23 a.m., led to a significant police and emergency response and placed the surrounding area under a “hard lockdown.”
According to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies and Fire/EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene following reports of an active shooter. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has confirmed that it is assisting with the investigation and has taken one suspect into custody.
Local news sources report that in addition to the four fatalities, over a dozen individuals have been injured. Not all injuries were due to gunfire; some resulted from individuals attempting to take cover or flee the scene. One person was evacuated by air ambulance, and several others were treated for various injuries.
Students were evacuated to a nearby field as law enforcement worked to secure the area. The school, located in Winder—approximately 45 miles northeast of Atlanta—sent a message to parents indicating it was under lockdown due to the shooting.
ABC News spoke with student Sergio Caldera, who was in a chemistry class when the gunshots rang out. He described a chaotic scene where teachers and students were forced to take cover, and the classroom door was repeatedly pounded on by someone trying to gain entry. Caldera’s class eventually evacuated to the football field as the situation unfolded.
Sheriff Jud Smith, speaking at a brief news conference, condemned the attack, calling it an “evil thing.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has stated that state agencies are responding to the incident, and President Joe Biden has been briefed, with his administration coordinating with federal, state, and local officials.
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