Mason Schermerhorn, 14, & teacher Richard Aspinwall among victims in Apalachee school shooting as horror details emerge

POLICE have confirmed the names of four people killed in a shooting at a Georgia high school on Wednesday morning, including two teenagers.

The victims were identified as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angelo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said in a press conference.

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Apalachee High School

Christina Irimie

AP

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Mason’s family begged the community for help after not being able to get in contact with the teen, who is autistic, following the shooting at Apalachee High School .

“If he is escalated, PLEASE use a calm voice with him,” family members wrote on social media .

“Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”

One of Mason’s loved ones shared the horrific news online, writing that it is “sad we can’t even send our babies to school and them be safe.”

What we know so far…

• Four people are dead, and nine others were injured, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations confirmed.
• Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Kristen Angelo, 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Emery were named as the victims.
• 14-year-old student Colt Gray was named as the suspected shooter.
• Gray was reportedly interviewed by the FBI a year before after authorities received online threats of a possible school shooting.
• CNN has reported that as many as 30 people were injured, but those details have not been confirmed by investigators.
• Students gathered on the football field after the attack.
• President Biden and Vice President Harris have been briefed.
• Devastating texts reveal student’s fear.

“Beautiful Mason, we are so sorry!” another person wrote. “(America) failed you…Hug your children!”

Richard Aspinwall was hired at Apalachee in 2023 as a math teacher and defensive coordinator.

He previously worked as a football coach at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, per Sports Illustrated .

He also coached track and field at the school.

Aspinwall was reportedly killed in the doorway of his classroom as he tried to guide students to safety.

In 2022, he was awarded the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett’s Tally Johnson Award as Assistant Coach of the Year.

The achievement earned him widespread respect as a defensive coach.

“My heart is broken. I knew Coach Aspinwall when I was in high school at Mountain View,” a former student of Aspinwall’s wrote on Facebook .

“It’s no shock he died protecting the students at Apalachee. Praying so hard for his family and everyone who knew him.”

“Love you, coach,” wrote another Mountain View student.

Colt Gray, the 14-year-old suspected shooter, has been charged with murder and will be tried as an adult, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.

Nine others were injured by gunshot wounds and at least five people were being treated for symptoms of panic attacks.

The situation unfolded around 10:20 am as horrified students were alerted to an active shooting and desperately tried to barricade their classrooms.

Gray allegedly opened fire in a classroom, hitting several people as the crowd went into chaos.

Authorities from several agencies were at the scene by 10:30 am as hundreds of students were escorted out of the school.

Gray quickly surrendered to police , said Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith.

“I never imagined I would be speaking to the media in my career over something that happened today,” he said in a press conference earlier in the day.

“Pure evil happened today. 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. I am proud of this school system. My heart hurts for these kids. My heart hurts for this community.

“But I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county. I want that to be very clear and known. Law will prevail over what happened today.”

STUDENT’S ACCOUNT

Lyela Sayerath, who shared an algebra class with the suspected shooter, said she sat next to Gray minutes before the shooting spree.

She told CNN that Gray left the classroom at the beginning of the period, which she initially thought was him skipping class after not taking a bathroom pass.

A loudspeaker announcement told teachers to check their emails and shortly after, Gray tried to return to the classroom, however, Lyela noticed his gun.

“I guess he saw we weren’t going to let him in. And I guess the classroom next to me, their door was open, so I think he just started shooting in the classroom,” she told the outlet.

Lyela said Gray fired several shots in the other room, adding people dropped to the floor after hearing the gunfire.

“When we heard it, most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other.”

Lyela said her friend was in the classroom where the shooting took place, adding that he was “pretty shaken up.”

“He saw somebody get shot. He had blood on him,” she said.

“He was kinda limping. He looked horrified.”

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EPA

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