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Georgia high school on lockdown after reported deadly shooting Multiple people killed and at least 30 injured in Georgia high school shooting
(32 minutes later)
Sheriff’s office reports one suspect in custody after incident at Apalachee high school, 50 miles north-east of AtlantaSheriff’s office reports one suspect in custody after incident at Apalachee high school, 50 miles north-east of Atlanta
A Georgia high school was put on lockdown on Wednesday and students gathered in its football stadium amid reports of casualties, including fatalities, and a shooter being held in custody. Multiple people were reported killed and about 30 others injured in a shooting Wednesday morning at a Georgia high school. Authorities said a suspect was in custody.
Helicopter video from WSB-TV showed dozens of law enforcement and emergency vehicles surrounding Apalachee high school in Barrow county, about 50 miles north-east of Atlanta. Law enforcement responded to a report of a shooter at Apalachee high school in Barrow county, 50 miles north-east of Atlanta, at 10.23am, the Barrow county sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The county sheriff’s office issued a statement saying that police and fire service personnel rushed to the school mid-morning “in reference to a reported active shooting” and that casualties had been reported and “one suspect is in custody”. At a lunchtime press conference, sheriff Jud Smith said it was still a “very active” situation.
There were media reports of two people killed and four injured, but confirmation and further information were awaited. “We have multiple injuries,” he said. “What you see behind us is a evil thing today. This is going to take multiple days for us to get answers as to what happened and why this happened.”
A statement from the White House said that Joe Biden had been informed of the unfolding incident. Smith said he could not confirm reports of fatalities, but several local media outlets, citing a law enforcement source at the scene, reported at least four deaths and about 30 injuries. It was unclear how many of the injuries were gunshot wounds.
It said that the US president “has been briefed by his homeland security advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, on the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia and his administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as we receive more information”. A statement from the White House said that Joe Biden had been informed of the unfolding incident. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was expected to address the shooting at an afternoon media briefing.
The statement said Biden “has been briefed by his homeland security advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, on the tragic shooting at Apalachee high school in Winder, Georgia and his administration will continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials as we receive more information”.
Merrick Garland, the attorney general, said FBI and ATF agents were on the scene, and the justice department “stands ready” to provide any further assistance authorities in Georgia needed.
“I’m devastated for the families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy,” he said at a press conference at the justice department addressing alleged Russian interference in US elections.
The mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, issued a statement on X. “My prayers are with the high school students, staff, and families affected by the act of violence in Winder, Georgia,” he wrote.
“APD [Atlanta police department] has also been on standby in case other law enforcement agencies need assistance with this incident. May God comfort the victims and their loved ones in the difficult days ahead.”
The initial casualty figures were reported by MSNBC, citing unnamed law enforcement officers briefed on the incident.The initial casualty figures were reported by MSNBC, citing unnamed law enforcement officers briefed on the incident.
The incident appeared to be under control and students were being released at midday, a Barrow County Schools spokesperson said. The incident appeared to be under control and students were being released at midday, a Barrow county schools spokesperson said.
Live aerial TV images showed several ambulances outside the high school.Live aerial TV images showed several ambulances outside the high school.
CNN said it witnessed a patient being loaded into a medical helicopter that had landed at the school. CNN said it witnessed a patient being loaded into a medical helicopter that had landed at the school.
The FBI field office in Atlanta dispatched agents to the high school to support local law enforcement, said Jenna Sellitto, a spokeswoman for the office.The FBI field office in Atlanta dispatched agents to the high school to support local law enforcement, said Jenna Sellitto, a spokeswoman for the office.
The US has seen hundreds of shootings inside schools and colleges in the past two decades. The carnage has sparked pitched debate over lax American gun laws and the US constitution’s second amendment, which enshrines the right “to keep and bear arms”.The US has seen hundreds of shootings inside schools and colleges in the past two decades. The carnage has sparked pitched debate over lax American gun laws and the US constitution’s second amendment, which enshrines the right “to keep and bear arms”.
The Gun Violence Archive reported there have been 384 mass shootings in the US this year before today’s incident in Georgia. The group considers a mass shooting to be one in which four or more victims are killed, not including the shooter.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reportingReuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting