Update published 4:45 p.m. Wednesday:
Law enforcement officials provided more details Wednesday afternoon in a deadly shooting that killed four people and injured several others that morning at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey identified the alleged shooter as Colt Gray, age 14, who was reportedly a student at the school. The victims' names have not been released, but officials did specify that the four people killed consisted of two students and two teachers.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith also spoke at the press conference, saying it was a school resource officer who intervened to stop the shooter.
"Our school resource officer engaged him, and the shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up, it would end with an officer-involved shooting," Smith said. "He gave up, got on the ground and the deputy took him into custody."
Smith said the early investigation has not uncovered any known threat that was made to the school prior to the shooting. He said it's unclear how Gray obtained the gun or how he got it into the school.
Smith underlined the tragedy of the shooting during his opening statement Wednesday.
"This hits home for me. I was born and raised here. I went to school in this school system, my kids go to this school system," Smith said. "My heart hurts for these kids. My heart hurts for our community."
Barrow County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff said classes will be canceled for the entire school system for the remainder of the week.
Update published 2:20 p.m. Wednesday:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that four people were killed with nine others injured in a shooting Wednesday morning at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.
The GBI posted to social media Wednesday afternoon that the shooter in the case is alive and in custody.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith spoke briefly to media earlier in the afternoon calling the shooting "evil."
Original story published Wednesday morning:
Authorities are on the scene after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County Wednesday morning.
A release from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the school near Bethlehem just after 10:20 a.m. to reports of an active shooting.
"At the time of this release, one suspect is in custody," the sheriff's office said.
Officials confirmed that multiple people have been shot, but the number of people shot and their condition has not been reported as of noon Wednesday.
Barrow County School System officials confirmed Wednesday morning that the school had been placed in a hard lockdown.
"(I) urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state," Kemp's statement said. "We will continue to work with local, state, and federal partners as we gather information and further respond to this situation."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed it has officials on the scene.
"We have agents on site assisting local, state, & federal law enforcement w/ the investigation," the GBI said on social media. "We urge anyone near the area to stay clear while authorities investigate."
The Atlanta office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued a statement about the shooting early Wednesday afternoon.
“FBI Atlanta is aware of the current situation at Apalachee High School in Barrow County," the statement said. "Our agents are on scene coordinating with and supporting local law enforcement.”
Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods said the state department of education's school safety team has been in contact with the Barrow County School System and is ready to assist if needed.
"I am devastated by the news of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School today. My heart and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected and the entire Barrow County community. This is an unimaginable loss for Barrow and for our entire educational community across the state," Woods said in a statement. "I ask that all Georgians keep the community of Apalachee High School and, first and foremost, the families of those lost, in your thoughts."
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
