Crime
One student killed in Apalachee High School shooting identified as Mason Schermerhorn
The suspect, a 14-year-old student named Colt Gray, has been identified and will face murder charges.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has confirmed that four people were killed in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Two of the victims were students, while the other two were teachers.
One of the victims of the shooting at Apalachee High School has been identified as Mason Schermerhorn. It is believed that Schermerhorn, who was autistic, wandered away from the school after students were dismissed.
The suspect, a 14-year-old student named Colt Gray, has been identified and will face murder charges.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith has stated that there is no known connection between the suspected shooter and the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Smith responded to a reporter’s question about a possible prior connection, stating that he was unaware of any such link.
Law enforcement officials have previously confirmed that the suspected shooter is a student at Apalachee High School.
Chris Hosey, the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, emphasized that the investigation includes a thorough examination of the individual’s background and their relationship with the school.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office received reports of an active shooter at the school around 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Authorities are currently assisting students in reuniting with their families.
Sheriff Jud Smith described the incident as an act of evil and stated that the investigation is ongoing. He declined to provide further details about the victims.
Apalachee High School, which serves nearly 1,900 students in grades 9-12, had received a phone threat earlier that morning.
The threat warned of shootings at five schools, with Apalachee being the first target.
The origin of the call remains unknown, and authorities are investigating the matter.
Video Reveals the Gun Used in the Apalachee High School Shooting. A student recounted their harrowing experience during the school shooting, describing how they witnessed an automatic weapon lying on the floor in the hallway as they were exiting the building.
A special education math teacher, David Phenix, has been identified as the first victim of the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School.
Phenix survived the attack but sustained gunshot wounds to the hip and foot, resulting in a shattered hip bone. He was immediately transported to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Crime
Investigators Believe Nancy Guthrie Removed From Her Home and Likely Concealed or Disposed of Within a Two-Hour Drive
TUCSON, Ariz. — As the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues, analysis of the known timeline suggests she was most likely removed from her residence between approximately 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. local Tucson time.
Based on that estimated window, investigators and independent analysts believe that if Guthrie was transported from her home, the suspect would have had sufficient time to conceal her or dispose of her remains within a two-hour driving radius of Tucson before first light.
Twilight on Sunday, February 1, 2026, began at approximately 5:40 a.m., providing a limited but significant period of darkness during which a suspect could have traveled undetected.
This geographic radius would encompass large areas of remote desert terrain, rural roadways, mountainous regions, and sparsely populated land across southern Arizona.
Law enforcement has not publicly confirmed a specific search zone but has emphasized that remote areas remain a focus of investigative efforts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working jointly on the case.
As previously announced, federal authorities recently released four images recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s home surveillance system, including images depicting a masked individual believed to be connected to the case.
Investigators have stated that over the course of eight days, they worked closely with private-sector technology partners to recover digital evidence that may have been lost, corrupted, or rendered inaccessible. Authorities indicated that certain recording devices may have been removed from the home, complicating early evidence collection efforts.
Officials have not publicly confirmed whether Guthrie is deceased, and the case remains classified as a missing person investigation. However, the working theory that she was forcibly removed from her residence during the early morning hours has guided search efforts.
Investigators have emphasized that locations where a victim may have been concealed or transported could still contain critical forensic evidence. If Nancy Guthrie was taken to a secondary location within the estimated timeframe, it is possible that trace evidence — including DNA belonging to both the victim and the perpetrator — could remain recoverable.
Identifying any site containing a combination of Nancy Guthrie’s DNA and that of a suspect would represent a significant breakthrough in the case and could substantially assist law enforcement in determining what occurred.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to come forward. Even seemingly minor details — including unusual vehicle activity, suspicious behavior, or knowledge of remote locations accessed during the early morning hours of February 1 — could prove vital.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.