14-Year-Old Arrested for Bringing Gun to Apalachee High School

A 14-year-old student was arrested Wednesday after bringing a gun to Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, just months after a mass shooting at the same school left four people dead. The incident occurred at 2:02 p.m., according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.

School district officials confirmed that no threat was made, and school resource officers and administration “responded immediately and secured the student and gun.” The student was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon on school grounds, theft by taking, and being a minor in possession of a firearm. The teen was booked into the Regional Youth Detention Center.

Following the incident, Barrow County Schools canceled classes at Apalachee High School for Thursday, Jan. 9. An email sent to parents stated that students and staff should not report to school and that Open House was postponed. All on-campus extracurricular activities were also canceled.

District leaders and school administration are working closely with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office regarding the investigation. The arrest comes just four months after a deadly shooting at the school on Sept. 4, 2024, when 14-year-old Colt Gray allegedly brought an assault-style weapon to the campus and opened fire, killing two students and two teachers before being arrested.

Gray and his father, Colin, who is accused of knowingly allowing his son to possess a weapon, are facing multiple charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. The recent incident has reignited concerns about school safety in the community, with parents expressing unease over the recurring issues at the high school.

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office has not provided further comment on the latest arrest. Channel 2 Action News reporter Courtney Francisco is en route to Barrow County to gather more details and reactions from the community.