Four dead in Apalachee High School shooting in US state of Georgia

A tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, claimed the lives of four individuals, including two students and two teachers.

The shooter, identified as 14-year-old student Colt Gray, opened fire on Wednesday before surrendering to authorities without resistance, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The campus was placed under lockdown as emergency services responded to the scene. Nine people with varying injuries were rushed to local hospitals, while students were evacuated to the school's football stadium. Live footage showed ambulances and a medical helicopter arriving to aid the wounded.

Sheriff Smith addressed the press shortly after the incident, describing the situation as a "very fluid investigation." He refrained from providing further details about the victims, simply confirming that multiple injuries had been sustained.

"Obviously, what you see behind us is an evil thing today," said Sheriff Smith. "I want to extend our deepest sympathies to our community, our school system, our kids, and our parents who had to witness this tragedy."

US President Joe Biden also responded to the incident, expressing his condolences in a statement: "Jill and I are mourning the deaths of those whose lives were cut short due to more senseless gun violence and thinking of all the survivors whose lives are forever changed. What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart."

Biden has been a vocal advocate for gun reform, signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022 following the Uvalde, Texas school shooting that claimed 21 lives. Despite the act's passage, gun violence continues to plague American schools, reigniting debates about safety and firearm regulations nationwide.