Live: FBI reveals Georgia faculty capturing suspect investigated over threats in 2023

The sister of one of the four victims shot dead at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has shared her heartbreak about the loss of her “sweet” and “caring” brother.

Christian Angulo, 14, was one of two students that was killed on Wednesday after suspected shooter Colt Gray, 14, allegedly opened fire using an AR-style rifle, according to authorities.

Now, Angulo’s older sister Lisette has spoken as she laments the loss of her “baby brother” on a GoFundMe page, set up late on Wednesday evening by the family to cover funeral costs. The Angulos’s fundraiser has received almost $33,000 from nearly 900 separate donations at the time of writing.

“Unfortunately my baby brother was one of the victims of the school shooting at Apalachee High School. He was only 14 years old. He was a very good kid and very sweet and so caring. He was so loved by many,” Lisette wrote. “His loss was so sudden and unexpected.. We are truly heartbroken.. He really didn’t deserve this.”

“We kindly ask if you could help us with any donations to help us with expenses for his funeral ceremony due to his loss being so sudden. We appreciate anything you can give. We also would appreciate any prayers at this time. Thank you.”

Barrow County Schools, a public school district based in Winder, Georgia, has announced the closure of all its institutions for the rest of the week in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday.

Apalachee High School, also based in Winder, Georgia, is one of the schools that comes under the Barrow County School System (BCSS).

“School is canceled for all BCSS schools tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6, 2024,” an alert reads on Apalachee High School’s website. “We will offer crisis counselors at the Central Office during both days from 8am-4pm. Please visit 179 W. Athens Street in Winder to meet with them.”

The suspected gunman, 14-year-old student Colt Gray, allegedly opened fire at the Georgia high school using an AR-style rifle, leaving four people dead.

Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both aged 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie are among the deceased, according to GBI.

The US has suffered at least 385 mass shootings so far this year – an average of more than 1.5 each day – according to the Gun Violence Archive

The site defines mass shootings as those in which four or more victims are shot.

The 385 total mass shootings include Wednesday’s incident at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, in which at least four people were killed.

Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, said that 14-year-old Colt Gray would be tried as an adult over the incident at Apalachee High School.

The youngster is in custody and will be charged with murder over the deaths of four people.

Hosey told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that two of the victims were also students, and two were teachers at the school.

Voters of Tomorrow, a Gen Z-led organization that engages young Americans in politics and government, issued the a statement following the shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia.

“This is what going back to school looks like in America, but it doesn’t have to. Georgia has among the weakest gun laws in the country, and Gen Z is paying the price,” the statement read.

“Allowing school shootings and gun violence to continue is a choice — and our elected officials have an obligation to choose to protect us.

“As we mourn today’s deaths and hope for the recovery of those who were injured, we will continue to demand stronger gun violence prevention laws. We cannot afford to let another school year pass without action.”

Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, told CNN she was sitting next to suspected gunman Colt Gray moments before the shooting occurred Wednesday.

She told the outlet said Colt left the classroom at the beginning of their Algebra 1 class around 9:45 am, and returned later but the door was locked. A fellow student went to open the door but jumped back.

Gray then left the door and gunfire was heard, Sayarath told CNN.

“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 said.

“When we heard [gunshots], most people just dropped to the floor and like kind of crawled in an area like piled on top of each other,” she said. “The teacher turned off the lights, but we all just kind of piled together. And like I pushed desks in front of us.”