Sheriff reports casualties in a shooting at a Georgia high school; suspect now in custody.

A suspect is in custody following reports of an active shooter at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, according to a statement from the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.

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"Casualties have been reported, but details on the number or condition of those affected are currently unavailable," the statement said. A source at a local hospital confirmed that patients with gunshot wounds are being treated. The Georgia State Patrol initially responded to the active scene at the school. Video footage showed at least five ambulances and a significant law enforcement presence on campus, with one medical helicopter seen airlifting a patient. Additionally, footage captured people gathering on a football field near the school, where students appeared to be praying.

Special agents from the FBI are assisting local authorities, according to a bureau spokesperson.

Apalachee High School, part of the Barrow County School System, informed that students have been cleared to leave, and parents have been notified to pick them up. The district also said transportation would be provided for those who need it. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has directed all available state resources to assist at the scene and urged "all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state," via social media.

Winder, a community about an hour from Atlanta, had a population of approximately 18,338 according to the 2020 census. The Barrow County School System is the 24th largest in the state, serving around 15,340 students, including 1,932 enrolled at Apalachee High School.

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