Gov. Kemp declares Sept. 4 Apalachee Remembrance Day 2 years after deadly school shooting

Gov. Brian Kemp proclaimed Friday, Sept. 4, as Apalachee Remembrance Day during a ceremony Thursday at the Georgia State Capitol. Families, school leaders, first responders and members of the Barrow County community attended.

"Two years on, the pain of September 4th is still here, and it will continue to be for quite some time," Kemp said. "But the people of Winder and Barrow County are also still here, showing up every day, working to help each other and putting one foot in front of the other as we all move forward, while never forgetting."

Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie were killed in the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting. Nine other people were injured. 

The proclamation recognizes the courage of students and staff who helped injured people and protected one another. It also honors the school employees, counselors, mental health professionals, first responders and community members who helped the school and families after the shooting.

Kemp said faculty members immediately locked down their classrooms while school resource officers engaged with the shooter within minutes.

"Their immediate response brought the shooting to an end, but the work of coming alongside this community was just beginning," Kemp said.

The governor also thanked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Barrow County first responders and others who helped secure the school, reunite families and provide emergency care.

"To all of the first responders here today who were there on September 4th, as parents of three daughters, Marty and I want to say thank you," Kemp said. "Thank you for rushing toward the danger to save the lives of children, teachers and staff."

Kemp was joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, state Rep. Houston Gaines, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, school leaders, law enforcement officers and families affected by the shooting.

The remembrance comes weeks after Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, were sentenced in separate cases stemming from the shooting. Sixteen-year-old Colt was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 55 charges, including murder. His father, Colin, was later sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Kemp said the names of the victims will remain in the memories of Georgians and in the hearts of their families.

"Though time may have passed, your presence in our family's prayers has not," he said.

Georgia schools see security changes after deadly shooting

Two years after the shooting at Apalachee High School, its impact is still shaping school security across Georgia.

House Bill 268, passed after the shooting in the spring of 2025, set a July 1 deadline for schools to have mobile panic alerts that connect with first responders, along with updated digital school maps.

The law expanded how schools identify and respond to potential threats.

It also requires that disciplinary records follow students when they change schools.

Some school districts are going further.

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) recently introduced a tactical response and drone team, a plan the district says took on new urgency after the shooting at Apalachee.

"When the Apalachee shooting happened a few years ago, we heard from a lot of voices in the community wanting to make sure we were protected," APS Police Chief Ronald Applin told CBS News Atlanta in July.

Additionally, APS said it has grown its police force from about 60 to roughly 100 officers, with an officer assigned to every school.

The DeKalb County School District said it has added EVOLV Express weapons detection systems at all middle and high schools, as well as district stadiums and facilities.

The district also uses the Centegix Rapid Incident Response platform to improve communication and speed up emergency response across its schools.

From what students see at the door to new technology and response teams , the lessons from Apalachee are being built into how Georgia schools prepare for the next emergency.