Change Needs To Be Made

Georgia School Shooting

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As of Sept. 6, there have been 46 school shootings in the United States. 13 were on college campuses and 33 on K-12 schools’ campuses. One of the most recent shootings occurred on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Ga. 14-year-old Colt Gray was the shooter, killing four and injuring nine. Gray was convicted of four counts of felony murder.

The day started normally with kids filling the hallway talking to their friends and learning new materials in their classrooms. It was not until Gray asked his teacher if he could leave class and go to the front office to speak with an unidentified person that something felt suspicious. Gray supposedly brought his bags with him, which had an AR-15 hidden inside. Instead of going to the front office, Gray hid in the bathroom until he began shooting. When one of the students saw Gray at the door with the gun, the school immediately notified the sheriff’s department. Shortly after, Law Enforcement flooded the school alongside two officers assigned to Apalachee High. A resource officer came in contact with Gray, who surrendered and is now in custody and awaiting a trial.

“I think that having armed forces, such as security guards that carry a gun, at school is a necessity for creating a safe environment,” senior Mallory Brown said.

Not only is Gray a threat, but so is his father Colin Gray. C. Gray has a history of violence and has been charged with, in connection with the shooting, two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. In May 2023, there were online threats about a school shooting coming from an email address associated with Gray. That following Christmas, reports stated that C. Gray had given his son the firearm as a Christmas present, knowing his son was a threat to himself and others and had made school shooting threats.

“I think Gray's father played an indirect role in the shooting,” Brown said. “He gifted him an AR-15, which is an assault rifle. That's so weird. I completely understand having a hunting gun as a teenager, but there's no need for a normal high school student to have an assault rifle.”

Earlier that morning, Gray texted his mother, “I’m sorry, mom. Prompting Gray’s mother, Marcee Gray, to call the school out of concern. The school counselor then informed M. Gray that her son had referenced school shootings. She and Gray’s grandfather then traveled 200 miles to Barrow County.

Two students–Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo–and two teachers–Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie–lost their lives that day. Nine other people–eight students and one teacher–were injured, but thankfully are expected to survive. A memorial service was held at the high school the following Saturday to remember the lives lost and those who were injured.