Crime
Suspect identified as 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that the suspect is in custody and alive.
A tragic mass shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of four people.
Nine additional victims were transported to local hospitals with injuries.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that the suspect is in custody and alive.
Multiple law enforcement sources have identified the suspect as a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School.
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 14-year-old boy is suspected of being the gunman who opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning.
Law enforcement sources have confirmed that the suspect is in custody and alive. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) reported that four people were killed in the shooting, and nine others were hospitalized with injuries.
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.
The shooting incident left at least four people dead and 9 injured.
Apalachee High School, the site of today’s tragic mass shooting in Georgia, had received a phone threat earlier in the morning.
Multiple law enforcement officials confirmed to CNN that the school received a call warning of shootings at five schools, with Apalachee being the first target.
The identity of the caller remains unknown. Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the threat.
Phenix’s daughter, Katie, shared that her father arrived at the hospital alert and awake and underwent successful surgery. She expressed gratitude for his survival and requested prayers for their family and the Apalachee High School community.
Phenix, a dedicated teacher of 22 years, had planned to retire in 2023. However, he accepted a position as the golf coach at Apalachee High School just three days before the tragic shooting occurred.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado โ A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.