A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in northern Georgia on Wednesday, where a shooting claimed the lives of at least two individuals and left four others wounded, as confirmed by local authorities.
The incident took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, where law enforcement agencies were promptly dispatched to manage the active shooting situation around 10:30 a.m., as reported by the Barrow County Sheriffs Office to FOX5.
According to The New York Post, the scene was secured by law enforcement within an hour, and students were released around 11:30 a.m. The school grounds were swarming with police vehicles from various agencies, as officers coordinated the students in the athletic field area. FOX5 also reported that at least two individuals were seen being airlifted for medical attention.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his concern and commitment to the situation, stating, I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and 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. He further assured that the state would continue to collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to gather information and respond appropriately to the situation.
The FBI's Atlanta division also confirmed its awareness of the situation and pledged its support to law enforcement. Meanwhile, Apalachee High School was cleared for dismissal, and other schools in the county were placed under a soft lockdown, as reported by ABC News, citing the school district.
In a statement, the school district urged parents to refrain from visiting their childs school during the lockdown, emphasizing that this measure was for everyone's safety. The district assured parents that they would be notified as soon as the Barrow County Sheriffs Office declared it safe for dismissal.
This horrifying incident occurred just over a month after students in Barrow County returned to classes on August 1, following a four-day weekend for the Labor Day holiday, as per the official school calendar. The community now faces the daunting task of healing and seeking answers in the wake of this tragedy.
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