New details surrounding the shooting that killed four and injured several more at north Georgia high school are rolling in. Investigators are working to continue piecing together the events which resulted in the first deadly school shooting this school year, and the 23rd reported in 2024, according to Education Week.
There still remains questions about the relationship, if any, between the gunman, Colt Gray, and his victims at Apalachee High School. Of the two 14-year-old victims, Mason Schermerhorn was identified by relatives. His family first began circulating the teen’s picture on social media after they couldn’t reach him in all the chaos, according to WSB-TV.
“If he is escalated, PLEASE use a calm voice with him,” family members wrote on social media. “Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”
Unfortunately, Schermerhorn’s mother would be the one to confirm to WSB-TV the worst: her son was among the deceased. A GoFundMe has been set up by his family and friends. So far, the page has raised more than $38,000.
His family wrote “He was the sweetest most loving soul with the biggest smile and will be missed dearly.”
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the other victims were 14-year-old Christian Angulo, 39-year-old teacher Richard Aspinwall, and 53-year-old teacher Cristina Irimie. Only one of the other injured victims have been identified so far.
A special education math teacher, David Phenix, was taken to the hospital after suffering from gunshot wounds. His daughter, Katie, took to Facebook to reveal her father is in stable condition. According to her, Phenix “was shot in the foot and in the hip, shattering his hip bone.”
It’s unclear if Schermerhorn and Phenix were in the same classroom at the time of the deadly attack. Police also continue to investigate Gray’s motive behind the targeted victims and if Schermerhorn was targeted because of his disability.
The 14-year-old shooter, Gray, was arrested after quickly surrendering to authorities, according to WSB-TV. He remains in custody at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center.
In even more shocking news, just a year ago, the FBI interviewed Gray and his father following “several anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting at an unidentified location and time,” per the Daily Mail.
Gray denied making online threats, and so the only course of action at the time was to warn local schools to “continually monitor” the teen. Now, authorities say he will be charged and tried as an adult for the heinous crimes.