WASHINGTON: Authorities responded to a shooting incident on Wednesday morning at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that one suspect is in custody.
According to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, the school was placed on lockdown as soon as reports of gunfire emerged. The lockdown was lifted within an hour, and students were subsequently released to their families.
Witnesses and local media reports describe a heavy police presence at the scene. CBS affiliate WANF reported seeing numerous ambulances, officers, and a medical helicopter gathered outside the school.
Aerial footage from the station showed at least one person being transported by helicopter, while students were evacuated to the school’s stadium where buses were waiting to take them home.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also responded to the scene. Law enforcement agencies are working to secure the area and provide assistance.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced through a social media statement that his office had mobilized state resources to support the response to the crisis. “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,” Kemp said.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office described the situation as an “active shooter incident,” and CNN confirmed that there have been casualties, although specific details about the injuries and the number of affected persons have not been disclosed.
The school’s administration had earlier sent out a message to parents, advising them to stay away from the premises while the situation was being managed. The Apalachee High School is located approximately 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta.
Local television footage showed ambulances driving across a school field, and scores of vehicles parked around the school. A crowd of people was visible on the football field.
