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Alapachee High School Shooting: Community offers support, prayers at vigil for victims

By and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Updated  September 5, 2024 7:39am EDT
Apalachee High School shooting
FOX 5 Atlanta

Community stepping up to help in aftermath of Apalachee High School shooting

Members of the community are rallying around Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia after a shooter opened fire, killing four people and injuring at least nine others. According to the GBI the suspect is in custody. People could be seen bringing water to concerned parents, frantic to pick up their children.

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Residents of Winder are already coming together to provide support after a mass shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday morning that left 4 dead and 9 injured.

Several locals, including Michael Moore, took it upon themselves to help, handing out water to families and first responders. "I live really close by and wasn’t called into work, so I wanted to help in any way I could," Moore said. 

Parents and students gathered on the school’s football field after the shooting. Some families were there for hours, sitting in the sun as they waited for information or to be reunited with their children. Several parents, arriving later, were seen running toward the middle and elementary schools in a frantic search for their children.

"People are parking their cars and running over here," one witness said.

MORE: How to help Apalachee High School shooting victims

Community gathers for vigil after school shooting

Vigil for Apalachee High School victims

As Georgians are coming to grips with what happened at Apalachee High School, the community came together the night after the deadly shooting to lean on each other for support.

Around 200 people gathered at Jug Tavern Park for a community vigil on Wednesday evening. State lawmakers, parents, students, school workers, and even first responders who helped treat some of the victims were all in the crowd.

"It was just heartwrenching to find out this happened in Winder here today and just devastating. I've got three children of my own who are all in school, and it's hard to think of what the families and the students and staff might be going through," one attendee said.

Kimberly Johnson is a bus driver for Apalachee High School. She said she was on standby, waiting to drive students home if needed after the incident.

"My heart was breaking for the families, the injured families and I prayed for them. And I have been crying all day and praying all day. This is a very sad day for us here in Barrow County," Johnson said.

Most of the messages centered around hope and coming together, which is something people in the community say they need right now.

"It kind of made me feel peaceful, I'm still hurting. But it kind of made me feel peace that God is in control and I believe that the community is going to come together stronger." Johnson said.

Local churches also opened their doors Wednesday night, so community members could come and sing and pray.

"I wanted to pay my respects to the families because I just can't imagine what they're going through. Just thinking about my kids, it's hard." India Nicely said. She attended one of the church services.

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Tight-knit community northeast of Atlanta 

The small town of Winder in Barrow County is located about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. With a population of around 18,000, Winder serves as the county seat and is known for its friendly, tight-knit community and historical significance. The town is rich in Southern hospitality, offering a mix of small-town charm and modern amenities.

Winder features a quaint downtown area with local shops, restaurants, and parks. Fort Yargo State Park, a major attraction, provides residents and visitors with outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. The town also has a deep connection to its historical roots, with several preserved landmarks reflecting its past.

Barrow County, encompassing Winder and surrounding areas, has a population of around 85,000. It combines rural landscapes with growing suburban developments, making it a desirable place for families and commuters who work in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The county is named after David Crenshaw Barrow Jr., a former chancellor of the University of Georgia, reflecting the region's strong educational ties.