On September 4, a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia left two teachers and two students dead. Nine others were injured in the incident. The shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, reportedly arrived at school by bus with a rifle and knife concealed in his backpack.
Gray, who had enrolled in the high school in August 14, had reportedly missed a substantial amount of school prior to the incident.
The incident caused students to take shelter in nearby classrooms, and eventually the football stadium, while police rushed in to figure out whether or not the children were safe. Student Layla Ferrell described seeing the phrase “hard lockdown” appear on her screen, followed by flashing lights and frantic efforts by students to barricade doors with chairs and desks (AP News).
Those killed in the shooting were identified as Mason Schermerhorn, 14; Christian Angulo, 14; Christina Irmie, 53; and Richard Aspinwall, 39. Within moments of the shooting being reported, two resource officers were able to assess the scene before anyone else was hurt. Gray surrendered immediately on encounter.
Two days after the event, students and faculty came together as a community to mourn. A vigil was hosted, where thousands who were not involved in the shooting attended. Some religious leaders made an appearance at the event, including Tommy Fountain Sr., a pastor at a church in Monroe.
Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder and will be tried as an adult in court. He could face the rest of his life in prison. His father, Colin Gray, has been charged with second degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. Mr. Gray had purchased the rifle as a Christmas gift for his son the previous December.
In response to the Apalachee incident and the alarming rise of school shootings in recent decades, schools have significantly tightened security measures. At least 185 people have been killed in American school shootings since the Columbine massacre in 1999 (Washington Post). As a result, various security measures have been implemented, including metal detectors, security cameras, mandatory school IDs for entrance and lockdown drills.
In addition, there has been an increased focus on students’ mental health across U.S. education programs. This includes efforts to make more guidance counselors, wellness centers and support programs available. School cellphone bans are also becoming more common, with 77% of U.S. schools moving to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes by 2020 (National Center for Education Statistics).
These changes, intended to enhance student safety, may have emotional consequences. Some parents have expressed increased anxiety about their children’s safety at school. As these policies continue to be implemented, there remains disagreement on whether they may inadvertently create an environment of fear rather than one conducive to learning and growth.
