Most district students, teachers return to class after Apalachee High School shooting

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) – Most Barrow County students and teachers returned to school Tuesday following the shooting at Apalachee High School.

No date has yet been set for students to return to Apalachee High School.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling, you know, because it’s still very fresh,” Faustino Ventura said. “It happened just a week ago, and I feel bad that it could happen again, but life has to go on.”

Ventura has nieces who attend Barrow County Schools and is a leader of a local youth group. The kids he knows say they are nervous about returning to class.

Comfort dogs planned for some Barrow County campuses as students return to class after... — Comfort dogs are planned on some Barrow County campuses as students return to class following last week’s deadly shooting at Apalachee High School.(Source: WANF)

“They’re 14 or 15 years old and they’re wondering, ‘With everything that’s going on, why is this happening to us?’ And it’s hard to say. We don’t have answers for everything,” Ventura said.

Puppies were just one of the comforts brought into Barrow County classrooms Tuesday.

“It’s such a sad time right now, so bringing the dogs in just to give them a moment or two of comfort is important to us,” said Paul Soost, the “leader” of Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs.

K-9 comfort dogs are scheduled on several campuses.

“We found that sometimes people don’t feel comfortable talking to other people about their grief, but they feel comfortable sitting down and hugging a dog,” Soost said.

All campuses have counselors available for those who want to talk.

Additional security measures are also in place on all campuses.

“All of our (school resource) officers will be in the schools tomorrow, including assistance from local municipal police departments and Georgia State Police,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said. “I understand the apprehension of our children and parents, but we ask that they return when I think they feel comfortable.”

“If you are not ready to return to school, we ask that you contact your school principal, let them know that you are not ready and allow them to help you find the resources you may need,” said Superintendent Dallas LeDuff.

Relatives and friends are mourning the victims, including teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.

A memorial service was held Sunday for Aspinwall, while a congregation of the Romanian Orthodox Church paid tribute to Irimie. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday, The Associated Press reported.

Another teacher and eight other students were wounded, seven of them by gunshot wounds. Others of the injured are returning home from hospital, the Associated Press reported. Doug Griffith said his 15-year-old daughter, Natalie Griffith, was released from the hospital Monday after being treated for gunshot wounds to her arm and wrist.

Colt Gray, 14, is charged as an adult with four counts of murder, and District Attorney Brad Smith said more charges likely will be filed against him in connection with the injuries.

Authorities have also charged his 54-year-old father, Colin Gray, with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty. Investigators say Colin Gray gave his son access to the gun when he knew or should have known the teen was a danger to himself and others.