The suspected shooter who killed four people and wounded at least nine others at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday is a 14-year-old student at the high school and was engaged by a school resource officer before surrendering to authorities, officials said.
After being confronted by a school resource officer, the suspected shooter "gave up, got on the ground and the deputy took him into custody," Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said. The 14-year-old gunman killed two teachers and two students before he surrendered, CNN reported. The sheriff added that at this time, law enforcement is not aware of any connection between the gunman and those he shot.
The nine victims who were wounded in the shooting were hospitalized after being shot "in some capacity," said Smith.
"I went to school in this school system. My kids go to this school system. I'm proud of this school system," Smith said. "My heart hurts for these kids, my heart hurts for our community, but I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county. I want that to be very clear and known. Love will prevail over what happened today, I assure you of that."
The shooter, who will not be named per Daily Wire policy, will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, said Chris Hosey, the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
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Police responded to an active shooter situation at Apalachee High School at 10:23 a.m. ET. One student told the Associated Press that he heard 10 gunshots and then heard a law enforcement officer yelling at someone, telling him to put his gun down. Another student told ABC News that he heard the gunfire ring out while he was in chemistry class.
"My teacher goes and opens the door to see what's going on. Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because there's an active shooter," he said. The student added that they all "huddled up" in the classroom and heard someone knock on the door and yell, "Open up!" before more gunshots were heard.
Students who survived the shooting were reunited with their parents over an hour later at around 11:30 a.m. Apalachee High School is 45 miles east of Atlanta and has nearly 2,000 students.