Apalachee High shooting: Community marking 2 years since tragedy
September 4 proclaimed as Apalachee Remembrance Day
Gov. Brian Kemp recited the names of four victims killed in the Apalachee High School shooting during a ceremony at the State Capitol and proclaimed Sept. 4 as Apalachee Remembrance Day. Sheriff Jud Smith stated that the convictions of shooter Colt Gray and his father offer healing as the district implements new safety measures.
WINDER, Ga. - Dozens gathered at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday for a somber observance honoring the victims of the deadly Apalachee High School mass shooting two years after tragedy struck the Winder campus.
Sept. 4 marks the second anniversary of the 2024 shooting, the deadliest school shooting in Georgia history.
Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, were killed. Nine other people were injured.
In the days surrounding the anniversary, families, students, educators, law enforcement officers and other community members will gather for several events focused on remembrance, healing and unity.
What happened at Apalachee High School
What we know:
The shooting unfolded on the morning of Sept. 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School near Winder.
Authorities said 14-year-old Colt Gray brought a rifle into the school and opened fire shortly after 10:20 a.m.
Panic buttons worn by school employees were activated after the gunfire began, triggering a lockdown and alerting authorities. Gray was taken into custody at the school.
The shooting led to criminal cases against both Gray and his father, Colin Gray.
ALL APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING STORIES
Colin Gray was convicted in March 2026 of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is currently seeking a new trial.
Colt Gray pleaded guilty to the charges against him in July and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kemp, families gather at Georgia Capitol
Happening Thursday:
It was a time of reflection and remembrance on the eve of the somber anniversary.
As the ceremony began at the Georgia Capitol Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp stood before mourning families, lawmakers, and first responders to recite the names of the four victims taken that day.
Apalachee High School senior Arely Flores was among those in attendance, drawing strength from the deep bond shared between victims' families, school staff, and fellow classmates left behind in the wake of heartbreak.
"Just having that family around and being connected to them and just having conversations with them. It makes me feel a lot better about it," Flores said. " And makes me feel like I'm not going through it alone. And that there's a community who experiences the same thing and is just willing to, like, grieve all together."
During the ceremony, Apalachee High Principal Jessica Rehberg read an official proclamation signed by Governor Kemp, officially declaring September 4, 2026, as Apalachee Remembrance Day to honor all those impacted by the tragedy.
The Governor offered comforting words to the surviving families, recognizing that while the passage of time cannot erase the grief, the legacy of their loved ones remains vibrant.
"For them, this day will always be a reminder of that loss, but also the impact that their loved ones had on others, an impact that continues to this day," Kemp said.
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Full ceremony for Apalachee shooting victims at capitol
Gov Brian Kemp, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, and families of the victims of the Apalachee High School mass shooting gathered for a ceremony today at Georgia State Capitol ahead of the 2nd anniversary of the tragedy.
Chalk the Walk brings community together
What's next:
Remembrances will continue Friday evening in downtown Winder with Barrow Strong: Chalk the Walk at Jug Tavern Park.
From 6 to 9 p.m., participants will fill the park's walkways with chalk artwork centered on hope, strength, unity and remembrance. Visitors will be able to walk through the artwork and vote for their favorite designs.
Registration to create chalk art is $50, with proceeds benefiting BRANCH and other local support services in Barrow County.
Ride Chee Strong returns Saturday
The annual Ride Chee Strong will take place Saturday, Sept. 5, bringing the community together in another show of support for Apalachee students, teachers and families.
This year's route will symbolically connect three Barrow County schools. Riders will start at the Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy, travel to Winder-Barrow High School and finish at Apalachee High School.
A community prayer will be held at Apalachee following the ride.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the ride is scheduled to start at noon.
Recovery continues
For Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, one of the first responders on the scene during the attack, the solemn gathering offered another step toward long-term recovery.
Smith noted that the legal resolution and convictions of shooter Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, have provided a measure of closure for the Winder community.
"It helps us get past that and move forward," Sheriff Smith said. "It doesn't replace the four that we lost and the victims that we had, but either way, it does help us move forward."
Smith added that Barrow County officials have since implemented several enhanced security measures across the school district to strengthen safety protocols and protect students in the years following the tragedy.
What they're saying:
The events are part of Barrow County's continuing effort to remember Schermerhorn, Angulo, Aspinwall and Irimie while supporting the students, educators, families and first responders who continue to carry the impact of what happened that September morning.