Apalachee shooting: Barrow County to install weapons detection systems in all high schools

WINDER, Ga. - Barrow County school officials say weapons detection systems will be installed at all county high schools more than 130 days after a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School.

The decision was unanimously approved during a special executive session by the Barrow County Board of Education on Thursday, a day after another incident involving a student bringing a gun onto campus.

"We have carefully and thoughtfully evaluated different measures to enhance safety and security in our schools, and we are grateful for the Board’s support in the immediate purchase of weapons detection systems in our high schools," said Dr. Dallas LeDuff, Barrow County School System superintendent. "Safety requires multiple layers of protection, and these enhancements will help make our schools more secure." 

The systems are expected to cost around $700,000 and will begin to be in place as early as next week.

"Our priority is to protect the wellbeing and safety of our students," said Lisa Maloof, Board of Education Chair. "We know there is more work to do, and we’re committed to continuing the conversation with our community and safety experts to make our schools safe spaces where learning can thrive."

Parents react to new security measures

Ever since the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in September, parents have been begging for more security in the schools. They say they are finally seeing a step in the right direction.

Protesters gathered outside the school district headquarters before the meeting, chanting and holding signs demanding immediate action to improve school safety. "We shouldn't have to sit in fear in our classrooms," said Heather Kasper, a teacher at Apalachee High. "Thank God there wasn't a second shooting, but there could have been."

The student brought the gun to school and reportedly pointed it at another student. Katherine Reynolds, whose nephew was the victim, described the harrowing experience. She said he was in the bathroom when he saw the teen with a gun in his waistband. She says when the teen looked up, he took the gun out and pointed it at her nephew. "He was very scared. He didn't know what to do," Reynolds said. She immediately alerted the school, and the student with the gun was taken into custody.

The incident has heightened tensions in a community still grieving from the mass shooting in September, with parents and teachers demanding stronger security measures. Layla Contreras, a representative of the advocacy group Change for Chee, outlined the group’s recommendations: "A clear bag policy, AI-powered metal detectors, and safety town halls for better communication and transparency for students, teachers, and staff."

"This is a great first step," said Contreras. "It’s an action that should have happened four months ago."

Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff noted that the district had previously added school resource officers and installed phones in classrooms after the September tragedy. However, many parents argued that these measures were insufficient. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our students and staff," LeDuff said during the meeting.

Barrow County school resource officers 

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office increased the number of school resource officers from 17 to 25, with at least two at every high school and one at every middle and elementary school.

That decision was made back in September, just weeks after the deadly school attack.

Hiring for those positions began almost immediately. It was not immediately known if all the positions have been filled.

Phones in Barrow County classrooms

A month after the attack, the board voted to purchase desk phones for each classroom at a cost of about $95,600.

The idea is to have a better line of communication for the students’ safety.

School officials say the phones have been installed in all the high schools and crews are continuing to install them in the middle schools.

Apalachee High School shooting: 4 months later

On the morning of Sept. 4, 2024, an armed suspect, later identified as 14-year-old Apalachee High School student Colt Gray, opened fire at school, killing four people and injuring nine others.

The GBI identified the victims as Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, both math teachers, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old.

Apalachee High School was closed for nearly three weeks after the tragedy unfolded. During that time, the entire nation grieved alongside members of the greater Winder community.

Just two days after the shooting, Colt Gray made his first court appearance in Barrow County. He faces 55 charges, including four counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated battery, 25 counts of aggravated assault, and 18 counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.

His father, Colin Gray, was also arrested for allowing his son to have a gun. He faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.