Students return for classes at Apalachee High School nearly three weeks after deadly shooting
WINDER, Ga.— Students poured into Apalachee High School on Tuesday for their first day of class after a school shooting killed two of their peers and two teachers and injured nine other people almost three weeks ago at the campus northeast of Atlanta.The sun was still rising as buses with windows painted to read “CHEE STRONG” and “Love will prevail” looped around the school’s entrance.Georgia State Patrol cars and sheriff vehicles weaved their way through traffic as students turned into parking lots.Police say 14-year-old student Colt Gray slipped out of math class on the morning of Sept.
4 with an AR-15-style rifle given to him by his father.Within minutes, sounds of gunshots rippled across the hall, and students crouched behind desks as teachers barricaded classroom doors.The school went into lockdown.Some students saw bodies as police officers led them to the football field, where others bled from the grazing of a bullet.“I don’t want to go back, because it is my last year and things are a little hard on me,” said Apalachee student Junior Garcia Ramirez, who was close to the football coach killed by the shooter.But the open house hosted by the school Monday helped Ramirez feel more prepared to go back.
He said there “wasn’t a corner” of the school without staff, police officers, counselors or therapy dogs roaming the halls.He was especially glad to hear from school board officials and see how much they cared.The atmosphere of the open house was one of both joy and unease, Ramirez said.Students were excited to be back together, but some were on edge about returning to classes as the blocked-off hallway where the shooting happened reminded them of when their safety was at risk.The next day, students milled about the campus and chatted with friends as they made their way towards the building to begin class.Within two days of the shooting, Gray was charged with four counts of murder, and his father with related charges.Officials say ...