Football coach, math teacher, video-game loving teen and ‘beautiful soul’: Victims of Georgia school shooting
Two students and two teachers were killed in the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia
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Tributes are now pouring in for the four victims who were killed in a mass shooting at a Georgia high school.
Two students and two teachers died in the “senseless” violence after a gunman opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder on Wednesday morning.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has now named the victims as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
At least nine others were also injured in the attack and they are expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
Law enforcement named the suspected gunman on Wednesday night as 14-year-old Colt Gray — a student at the school who surrendered to authorities on the scene. He will be charged with murder and tried as an adult, authorities said.
On Thursday evening Gray’s father was arrested in connection with the shooting at Apalachee High School, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Colin Gray, 54, has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Earlier on Thursday CNN reported that Colin Gray had told investigators he bought his son the assault rifle allegedly used to kill two students and two teachers as a Christmas present last year.
The purchase came months after the FBI told local law enforcement in May 2023 about anonymous online threats about a school shooting. Colt Gray denied he was behind them and no arrest or other legal action was taken.
As family, friends, and the community reel from the shooting, loved ones are paying tribute to the victims.
Here’s what we know so far about them:
Christian Angulo
Angulo has been described by friends and family as “a beautiful soul” who was “loved by so many.”
His sister, Lisette Angulo, shared the family’s heartbreak and shock over his death in a GoFundMe.
“Unfortunately my baby brother was one of the victims of the school shooting at Apalachee High School,” she confirmed.
“He was only 14 years old. He was a very good kid and very sweet and so caring. He was so loved by many. His loss was so sudden and unexpected.. We are truly heartbroken.. He really didn’t deserve this.”
The 14-year-old’s family is fundraising to cover the cost of his funeral.
“We kindly ask if you could help us with any donations to help us with expenses for his funeral ceremony due to his loss being so sudden. We appreciate anything you can give. We also would appreciate any prayers at this time,” she said.
Ivonne Lizbeth Infante, who said Angulo is her boyfriend’s nephew, also paid tribute to the teenager on Facebook, calling him a “very sweet” and “kind young man.”
“Always loved having him and his family over and our weekend trips to Costco,” she wrote on Facebook.
“He loved to play with our baby girl. I will forever be grateful for the love and the time spent with us. He didn’t deserve this, none of them did.”
Mason Schermerhorn
As news of the shooting spread on Wednesday, Schermerhorn’s desperate family circulated his photograph on social media as they struggled to get in contact with him.
The teenager was autistic and his family urged anyone who found him to “use a calm voice.” They wrote: “Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”
Tragically, the family later confirmed Schermerhorn was one of the victims killed in the shooting.
His sister shared a photo of him on social media and said: “Thank you to everyone that shared. Unfortunately my brother did not make it out of the school alive.”
A family friend, Doug Kilburn, told The New York Times that the teenager “really enjoyed life” and “always had an upbeat attitude about everything.”
He enjoyed spending time with his family, playing video games, telling jokes and taking trips to Walt Disney World, the paper reported.
Richard Aspinwall
Aspinwall was a 39-year-old married father-of-two and math teacher at the school.
He died while “protecting his students,” a Gofundme page set up for his family says.
A tribute to the teacher, who also coached the school football team, posted on Facebook said the fundraiser would go towards supporting his wife and two daughters.
“We are all in shock over the news that Ricky Aspinwall lost his life protecting his students,” the page, set up by Julie Woodson, reads. It has so far raised more than $100,000.
One person who knew him said: “Coach Aspinwall was a really good coach and he has a good heart. My condolences to his wife and his loved ones and especially his two little girls.”
Another commented: “Senseless tragedy! One of my sons [sic] best friends and an all round great guy with a family. What is wrong with this world! Praying for his beautiful family and friends.”
Christina Irimie
Irimie, 53, was also a math teacher at the school. She has been described as a “beloved teacher, wife, daughter and friend” on a GoFundMe page launched to help her family cover funeral expenses.
“She dedicated her life to shaping the minds and hearts of students and the community,” the page created by Corneliu Caprar and Gabrielle Buth reads.
Irimie was also described as “an incredible teacher” by a friend in a post on Facebook.
“Christina Irimie was an incredible teacher. I feel blessed to have known her, but she went into her school building today, to teach math because she was amazing at it, and she will never come home to her family and friends,” the friend wrote.
“Do something for Ms. Irimie….Take action for our kids AND the teachers and staff that care about them so much.”
David Phenix - survivor
Fellow math teacher David Phenix was shot in the foot and hip on Wednesday morning, his daughter Katie Phenix said on social media.
Phenix was rushed to surgery and when waking up, his daughter said his first words were: “Is everyone else okay?”
“I think that speaks volumes to the type of man he is— always putting others first, no matter his personal situation,” she said.
“Additional surgeries will probably be needed, but as of right now he is resting,” she continued. “It will be a very long road ahead.”