Apalachee High School shooting audio reveals chaos and fear
911 calls capture terror of Apalachee High School shooting
Georgia authorities have released harrowing audio from 911 calls made during the Apalachee High School shooting. The Barrow County 911 call centre began receiving calls around 10.20am on the tragic day, which resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two students.
The recordings reveal the chaos and fear unleashed when 14-year-old Colt Gray opened fire on September 4. Parents of students, both at Apalachee High School and nearby schools, along with relatives of staff, were among those who called in distress.
One frantic caller relayed, ‘My daughter called me crying. Someone went, ‘boom, boom, boom, boom.’’ The surge of calls led to prolonged wait times. A man, after reading texts from his girlfriend, was placed on hold for over 10 minutes. He expressed uncertainty, saying, ‘She hears people yelling outside, so I don’t know if that’s officers in the building or that’s — I don’t know.’
While sobbing on the call, the aunt of #Colt_Gray told a Barrow County 911 operator that she was afraid her nephew was involved in the horror at #ApalacheeHighSchool.
Aunt of Colt Gray: “They called the school and told the counselor to go get him immediately. And then he said he… pic.twitter.com/IadTQKSQ29
— 𝕏 🕵🏻♀️🦋L̤̮E̤̮G̤̮🅰️C̤̮Y̤̮🦋🕵🏻♀️ 𝕏 (@iamlegacy23) September 16, 2024
Georgia law restricts the release of some emergency calls, particularly those with ‘the speech or cries of minors.’ Consequently, many calls remain undisclosed. Calls flooded neighbouring counties as desperate parents sought information. One worried parent asked, ‘Sir, my daughter goes to school next door to Apalachee. Is there a school shooter?’ The operator confirmed, ‘We do have an active situation at Apalachee High School right now. We have a lot of calls coming in.’
In addition to the calls, over 500 radio correspondences between emergency responders have been released. One officer can be heard shouting, ‘Active shooter!’ Another recording captures an officer stating that a child is locked in the art room, speaking to their parent on the phone.
Details about Colt Gray’s troubled family background have emerged. His mother, Marcee, has a criminal record that includes drug use, domestic violence, fraud, and property damage. Gray’s father, Colin, has been charged with two counts of murder related to the shooting. He allegedly bought Colt the AR-15 used in the attack, took him on hunting trips, and reportedly called him a ‘sissy.’
Gray faces adult charges for the shooting. This incident marks the 45th school shooting in 2024 and is the deadliest since the Convent School shooting in Nashville in March 2023.
What Other Media Are Saying
- FOX 5 Atlanta reveals 911 calls from Apalachee High School shooting, detailing frantic parents and students describing the chaos and uncertainty during the mass shooting incident. (Read more)
- CBS News reveals 911 calls were overwhelmed during the Apalachee High School shooting, highlighting the chaos and urgency as parents sought information and officials responded to the crisis. (Read more)
- Fox News reports on the release of 911 calls from the Apalachee High School shooting, highlighting high call volumes and emotional responses from frantic parents and authorities. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at Apalachee High School?
A shooting occurred, leaving two teachers and two students dead.
Who was the shooter at Apalachee High School?
The shooter was 14-year-old Colt Gray.
How did the authorities respond to the 911 calls?
The influx of calls led to extended wait times and overflow to the next county’s call center.
Why can’t all the 911 calls be released?
Georgia law restricts releasing calls containing ‘the speech or cries of minors.’
What is known about the shooter’s family background?
Colt Gray’s parents have criminal histories, including his father, who bought the AR-15 used in the shooting.
