In a harrowing reminder of the ongoing violence plaguing American schools, Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, became the site of the 45th school shooting of the year on Wednesday. The attack, which unfolded just weeks into the new school year, left four people dead and nine others hospitalized.

Who Is Colt Gray?

The suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, allegedly used an AR-platform weapon to kill two classmates and two teachers. The victims have been identified as 14-year-old students Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, along with 53-year-old math teacher Christina Irimie and 39-year-old math teacher and assistant football coach Richard Aspinwall.

The shooting began around 10:20 a.m., following an earlier warning call about potential violence at Apalachee High School. According to witnesses, Gray left his Algebra 1 class shortly before the attack. Classmate Lyela Sayarath reported that Gray knocked on the door to return, but a student who saw the gun refused to open it. This delay may have prevented further casualties.

Gray reportedly turned his weapon on a nearby classroom, unleashing a barrage of gunfire. School resource officers and law enforcement responded swiftly, and Gray surrendered without further incident. He is currently being held at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Centers and is scheduled for his first court appearance on Friday.

The school and local community are reeling from the tragedy. “We are truly heartbroken,” said Lisette Angulo, Christian’s older sister, through a GoFundMe page set up for the family. “He was a very good kid and very sweet and so caring. He was so loved by many.”

A similar fund has been established to support the family of Richard Aspinwall, who was remembered fondly by the Apalachee Football community. The team has canceled their upcoming home game as a mark of respect.

Authorities have yet to determine whether Gray specifically targeted his victims or if the attack was random. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) and local law enforcement are still piecing together the timeline and the suspect’s motive. Investigators are also exploring how Gray obtained the weapon used in the shooting and whether he had any prior knowledge of or association with the victims.

Gray was previously investigated last year following anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting, but no actionable evidence was found at the time. He had also been monitored due to threats made on an online gaming site, but no charges were filed.