Defensive coordinator among 4 killed in Ga. school shooting

Richard Aspinwall, the defensive coordinator of the Apalachee High School football team, was among four people killed Wednesday in a mass shooting at the school.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Aspinwall as one of those killed. He was 39. Aspinwall is listed as the football team’s defensive coordinator and a math teacher on the school’s website.

Before working at Apalachee, Aspinwall was a teacher and coach at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former Mountain View High School teacher and coach Ricky Aspinwall, who lost his life at Apalachee High School today,” the Mountain View High School athletics department said in a statement on its Facebook page. “Mountain View extends its deepest condolences to the entire Apalachee High School community.”

Messages left with Aspinwall’s family and the Barrow County School District were not immediately returned.

Classes at Apalachee were canceled Thursday.

Monroe Area schools announced on their website that Friday’s game at Apalachee has been canceled and also posted on Facebook.

“Monroe Area High Schools stands with Apalachee High School and our thoughts are with them at this time. The football game versus Apalachee for this week has been canceled,” the statement said. “There will be a community prayer vigil held at the MAHS Purple Pit Football Stadium on Friday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m.”

Aspinwall math teacher Christina Irimie, who was 53, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo were killed when a shooter opened fire inside the school Wednesday morning, according to the GBI. 

The GBI said Colt Gray, 14, surrendered when confronted by law enforcement. According to the GBI, Gray will be charged with four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected. His first court appearance is expected to be at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday.

“The investigation into the shooting at Apalachee HS is still active & ongoing,” the GBI wrote on its X account Thursday. “This is day 2 of a very complex investigation & the integrity of the case is paramount. We ask for the public’s patience as we work to ensure a successful prosecution & justice for the victims.”

As of Wednesday night, the GBI said it was still conducting an active investigation, collecting evidence and working to understand the timeline of events.

Nine additional people — eight students and one teacher — were injured in the shooting and taken to hospitals.