Crime
What we know about the 4 people killed in Apalachee High School shooting
Colt Gray will make his first court appearance on Friday.
Four people were tragically killed in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday morning.
The victims have been identified as:
- Mason Schermerhorn: A 14-year-old student
- Christian Angulo: A 14-year-old student
- Richard Aspinwall: A math teacher and assistant football coach
- Christina Irimie: A math teacher
The school’s website confirms that both Aspinwall and Irimie were math teachers, and Aspinwall also served as an assistant football coach.
Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School, has been identified as the suspected gunman in the tragic shooting.
Gray will face murder charges and be tried as an adult.
Last year, Gray was questioned by law enforcement regarding several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unspecified location and time. However, there was insufficient evidence to warrant an arrest at that time.
Colt Gray will make his first court appearance on Friday.
The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice communications director, Glenn Allen, confirmed that Gray will appear in a virtual hearing, although the exact timing has not been determined.
Gray was transferred to the Gainesville Youth Detention Center overnight. Despite facing adult charges, he is currently being held in juvenile custody due to his age.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) director, Chris Hosey, stated during a press conference on Wednesday night that authorities are still investigating how the suspect obtained the AR-platform style weapon used in the shooting.
Law enforcement sources have confirmed that there were no additional shootings or incidents reported in connection with the Apalachee High School tragedy.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) director has stated that an AR-platform weapon was used in the shooting.
Prior to the attack, Apalachee High School received a phone threat warning of shootings at five schools, with Apalachee being the first target. However, there is currently no evidence to suggest that any other schools were targeted.
The GBI director, Chris Hosey, has indicated that investigators are exploring the possibility of associates of the shooter being involved in the incident. At this time, there is no evidence to support the involvement of additional shooters or the existence of a list of targeted schools.
As the investigation continues, schools in the county will remain closed for the week.
Lyela Sayarath, a student at Apalachee High School, described how the suspected shooter left the classroom at the beginning of their Algebra 1 class around 9:45 a.m.
Upon returning to the classroom near the end of the class, the shooter knocked on the door. Another student approached to open the door but noticed the shooter was armed and did not open it. The shooter then proceeded to the next-door classroom and opened fire.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Department received the first reports of the shooting around 10:20 a.m. Law enforcement and two school resource officers assigned to Apalachee High responded promptly.
Sheriff Jud Smith stated that a resource officer confronted the shooter, who immediately surrendered and was taken into custody.
As a precautionary measure, all schools in the district were placed on lockdown, and police officers were sent to all district high schools.
The FBI and the ATF joined the investigation, working alongside local and state officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed their involvement.
Crime
Two Christian County Deputies Killed in Line of Duty Identified as Gabriel Ramirez and Michael Hislope
Christian County, Mo. โ The Christian County Sheriff’s Office has identified the two deputies killed in the line of duty during a multi-agency manhunt that concluded early Tuesday morning with the suspect fatally shot by law enforcement.
The fallen deputies have been identified as 30-year-old Deputy Gabriel Ramirez and 40-year-old Deputy Michael Hislope.
Deputy Ramirez joined the Sheriffโs Office on March 14, 2025. Although his tenure with the agency was brief, officials stated that his dedication to serving and protecting the community was evident from the outset.
Deputy Hislope had served with the department since October 28, 2019, and was described as a dedicated public servant, trusted colleague, and valued member of the sheriffโs office family.
Both deputies were veterans of the United States Army and were recognized for their continued commitment to service following their military careers.
Sheriffโs officials stated that their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to Christian County will not be forgotten.
The incident began around 4:00 p.m. Monday when a deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of State Highway 160 and Route HH, south of Highlandville. During that encounter, gunfire erupted, resulting in the initial fatal shooting of Deputy Ramirez and prompting a large-scale manhunt.
Authorities later located the suspectโs abandoned vehicle, triggering an extensive search effort involving approximately 100 law enforcement officers, deputies, and state troopers from across the Ozarks region.
Federal partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the ATF, also assisted in the operation.
According to Brad Cole, the search culminated early Tuesday morning near the roundabout on Highway 160 close to Reeds Spring.
A helicopter operated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol detected a moving heat signature in a wooded area after hours of searching.
As deputies approached the location, the suspect, identified as Richard Bird, opened fire. Law enforcement officers returned fire, fatally striking Bird and ending the threat.
During the exchange, one additional deputy from Christian County and one deputy from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office were wounded. Sheriff Cole stated that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
While the suspect has been neutralized, the cost of the operation has left the department and community grieving. Two deputies did not return home to their families, and multiple agencies across the region are mourning alongside Christian County.
Sheriff Cole described the loss as devastating, noting the profound impact on the deputiesโ families, colleagues, and the broader community they served. The investigation into the shootings remains ongoing.