(NEXSTAR) – At least four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, authorities said Wednesday.
Another nine people were injured and taken to local hospitals, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The ages or any other details about the victims were not released.
A suspect has been taken into custody. "Reports that the suspect has been ‘neutralized’ are inaccurate," the Bureau said on X. Reports of shootings at other schools in the area are also false, they said.
Sheriff Jud Smith said law enforcement received a call about an active shooter Wednesday morning prompting the dispatch of multiple agencies, including firefighters and EMS personnel. The sheriff declined to give more details on the victims in a press conference at 1 p.m. but said more information may be made available around 4 p.m.
He said the priority was reuniting students with their families.
"Obviously, what you see behind us is an evil thing today," Smith said.
Students were evacuated and could be seen gathering at the high school's football stadium. Dozens of law enforcement and emergency vehicles could also be seen in the area.
"I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state," Gov. Brian Kemp posted on X.
He said local, state and federal authorities were working to gather more information.
The White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed by his Homeland Security Advisor, Liz Sherwood-Randall, about the shooting and the administration will coordinate with federal, state and local officials as it receives more information.
The shooting had reverberations in Atlanta, where patrols of schools in that city were beefed up, authorities said. More patrols of Atlanta schools would be done “for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
Apalachee High School, located northeast of Atlanta, has an enrollment of around 1,900 students. The school year started a little over a month ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
