(Scypre.com) – Apalachee High School in Winder, located in Barrow County, was placed under a hard lockdown on Wednesday morning following a shooting incident, according to local officials. The situation unfolded rapidly, with multiple reports of a possible shooting reaching FOX 5 Atlanta even before official confirmation was made.
The incident triggered an immediate and large-scale response from law enforcement and emergency medical services. SkyFOX 5, flying over the scene, captured footage of emergency responders providing medical assistance to individuals at the school. At least two people were seen being loaded into helicopters, which were then flown to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment. The number of law enforcement officers and ambulances outside the school indicated the severity of the situation.
Grady Memorial Hospital later confirmed at 12:20 p.m. that they had received one gunshot victim from the scene. However, no further information regarding the victim’s condition or identity has been released to the public at this time.
The situation began to deescalate around 11:30 a.m. when school officials informed FOX News that the school had been cleared, and students were being released to their families. The students were allowed to be picked up from the school, and buses were also available for those who required transportation to their homes. School authorities have promised to provide additional information as it becomes available.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the presence of an active shooter at the school earlier in the morning, prompting the deployment of multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency responders at approximately 10:30 a.m. In a significant development, one suspect has been taken into custody, although no details about the individual have been disclosed.
In a related precautionary measure, Barrow-Winder High School was also briefly placed on hard lockdown. Fortunately, this lockdown has since been lifted without further incident. The FBI has also joined the investigation, with agents on the ground assisting and coordinating with local law enforcement.
FBI Atlanta issued a statement acknowledging their awareness of the situation at Apalachee High School, and confirmed that their agents were actively involved in supporting the response efforts. Apalachee High School, which is one of two high schools within the Barrow County Public Schools district, serves approximately 1,900 students. The school is situated roughly 40 miles northeast of Atlanta.