Latest news with #ApalacheeHighSchool
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Hip hop star begs US to ban all guns as he fears 'children aren't safe'
Flavor Flav, founding member of Public Enemy which has earned five Grammy Award nominations, speaks in the wake of several active shooter incidents, including one at Apalachee High School in Georgia Rapper Flavor Flav has called on the US to ban all firearms - as he believes "our kids aren't safe". The 66-year-old hip hop star, who founded group Public Enemy, says the "wrong people" have too much access to guns. This is despite he himself spending time in jail after he was charged with attempted murder for shooting his neighbour in 1993. But seeing his kids grow up since, Flavor Flav - real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr - has said he has taken time to reflect on what he describes as "an epidemic of gun violence" in the US. The musician has expressed his opinion in a newspaper column today - Independence Day - in the wake of several active shooter incidents, including one at Apalachee High School in Georgia, which saw two children and a teacher die. "This happens so often, we have started to become numb to it as a society. Our schools aren't safe and our kids aren't safe. This is because gun protection laws are weak," Flav wrote for Newsweek. The father of nine, from the state of New York, added the country is caught in a "epidemic of gun violence with no sign we can stop or change course." He blamed the lack of gun laws, which he called "domestic errorism". The rapper, who said no civilian needs a semi-automatic weapon, added: "Stop putting a price tag on the heads of our children." But Flav himself shot his neighbour in 1993, for which he was charged with attempted murder and spent 90 days in jail. He refers to this in his Newsweek piece, inssting he "would know" that guns are "falling into the hands of the wrong people". "Guns are falling into the hands of the wrong people. I would know. I went to jail because of guns. I ended up on Rikers Island. So I am speaking from first-hand experience. Back in the day, guns and drugs were brought into Black communities. It was a time when we were taught that guns and drugs equaled power. We all had guns. There was peer pressure; a gun felt like a necessity to protect yourself from gang wars. This helped create a system of criminals who were forced into legalised slavery," Flav reflected. He then compared those times to the modern day, which he stresses is full of "fear and power". The star added: "Fear is a powerful, short-term motivator. We need to flip it so it can break through to be a positive and valuable resource. Let our fear of losing our children be more powerful than our fear of our next-door neighbour." Public Enemy, which was nominated for five Grammy Awards between 1990 and 1995, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. They had success with the likes of Give It Up in 1994 and Harder Than You Think in 2007.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
New hearings for Colt Gray, Colin Gray scheduled this summer
The Brief Colt Gray, accused of a school shooting in September 2024, has two evidentiary hearings scheduled for June 27 and July 15. Investigators found a notebook and a "shrine" at Gray's home, linking him to the shooting, and he faces 55 charges, including murder and assault. Colin Gray, Colt's father, faces 29 charges for allegedly allowing his son access to the weapon used in the shooting. BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Colt Gray, the teen accused of opening fire inside Apalachee High School back in September 2024, has two new evidentiary hearings scheduled. What we know A hearing for the 14-year-old Gray and his father, Colin Gray, is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 27. Under discussion is a timeline supplied by Apalachee High School assistant principal Deigh Martin. A second hearing for Colt Gray was scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 15. Multiple pieces of evidence will be discussed, including records from Haymon Morris Middle School. What we don't know It is not clear if either Gray will appear in court for the hearings. The backstory Colt Gray is accused of opening fire using a "black semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle" inside the high school's J hall during the second period of class on Sept. 4. Two teachers, 39-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old Cristina Irimie, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed. Nine others were injured. Investigators later found a notebook they say belonged to Gray that contained drawings eerily matching the events of the school shooting, as well as a checklist outlining steps the teen planned to take. They also reportedly found a "shrine of sorts" behind Gray's computer desk in his home, consisting of approximately 15 photographs and newspaper articles about past school shootings and school shooters. Gray faces 55 charges, including four counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated battery, 25 counts of aggravated assault, and 18 counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. His father, Colin Gray faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children, after authorities say he allowed his son access to the weapon used in the September 2024 shooting. Teachers killed in Apalachee HS shooting to be added to national memorial Apalachee High shooting: Judge rules on Colin Gray venue change request Apalachee HS hosts 'Barrow Together' event thanking community for support after shooting Possible plea hearing date planned in Apalachee HS shooter Colt Gray's case Georgia school safety bill signed into law after deadly Apalachee High School shooting The Source The Barrow County Superior Court provided the details for this article along with previous FOX 5 Atlanta articles.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Apalachee High School teachers added to National Memorial to Fallen Educators
The two teachers killed in the September Apalachee High School shooting are being added to a national memorial. Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie were both math teachers at the school. They'll be added to the National Memorial to Fallen Educators in Emporia, Kansas, later this month. The memorial is on the campus of Emporia State University. The memorial was established in 2013 in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting. The names of 189 private educators and school employees are already engraved. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Immigration protest ends with tear gas, fireworks thrown at officers, 6 arrests along Buford Highway They were once best friends, then one killed the other. We take you inside this bizarre murder case Fake Uber Eats killing suspect in court, victim's family removed from hearing [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teachers killed in Apalachee HS shooting to be added to national memorial
The Brief Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie will join the names on the National Memorial to Fallen Educators later this month. The teachers were known in the community for their kindness and passion for teaching. The memorial was established in 2013 and is the only national site in the United States that permanently honors K-12 public and private educators and school employees who died in the line of duty. BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Two teachers killed during last year's shooting at Apalachee High School will be added to the National Memorial to Fallen Educators later this month. Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie will join the names on the memorial at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas after a ceremony on June 20. The backstory Cristina Irimie was a beloved figure in the Romanian community of Gwinnett and Barrow counties, known for her passion for teaching and her commitment to preserving her heritage. Father Nicolae Clempus, pastor of St. Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church in Dacula, said teaching was not just a job for her, it was her life's passion. She dedicated her life to both educate and uplift children both at her high school and in her Romanian immigrant community. "The first thing you see is her big smile. She was always smiling," Clempus said. Some students reported that Irimie heroically died while trying to shield others from harm. When Richard "Ricky" Aspinwall wasn't teaching his students math, he was motivating them on the football field. His fellow coaches described Aspinwall as an amazing husband, father, and teacher as well as a "helluva human being." "He was a tremendous football coach, but I tell people that's not why everybody loved him,"close friend Derek Tiller told FOX 5. "Everybody loved him because he was a selfless individual that wanted to do everything he could to make the program better and do what he could to help kids. And he lived that out every day and because of that, I want to make sure to keep that alive and people know what a great person he really was." Dig deeper The other individuals who will be honored at the ceremony are: Annie Louise Keller, 25, teacher at Centerville (Illinois) Country School, killed by tornado debris on April 19, 1927. Christopher J. Trakimas, 61, boiler mechanic, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) School District, died May 18, 2016, after a workplace explosion. Nohema Graber, 66, Spanish teacher, Fairfield (Iowa) High School, killed Nov. 2, 2021. Kevin Garrison, 56, maintenance supervisor, Elkhorn (Nebraska) Public Schools, died Sept. 4, 2024, in a construction incident. Leah Seneng, 60, art teacher, Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California, died Nov. 22, 2024, from a rabid bat bite sustained on school property. Erin M. West, 42, teacher, Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, died in a school shooting on Dec. 16, 2024. Carol L. Mendiola-Mooers, 48, school counselor, Bering Strait (Alaska) School District, died in a Feb. 7, 2025, plane crash en route to visit with students. The memorial was established in 2013 and is the only national site in the United States that permanently honors K-12 public and private educators and school employees who died in the line of duty. "Each name is a legacy," said Maddie Fennell, executive director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. "And we're calling on the public to help us ensure those legacies are seen, read, and remembered." What you can do The National Teachers Hall of Fame has started a fundraising campaign to raise money needed to purchase and install another "book" made of black granite for the next set of names. You can learn more about the GoFundMe here. The Source Information for this story came from a release by the National Teachers Hall of Fame and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Barrow County faces backlash over proposed cuts to school resource officer funding
The Brief Barrow County plans to reduce funding for school resource officers, supporting only 12 of 25 positions, reversing a previous cost-sharing agreement with the school board. The decision follows the Board of Education's approval of eight new officers after a deadly shooting, increasing community demand for enhanced school security. The proposed funding cut would shift over $800,000 in costs to the Barrow County School Board, prompting community rallies and calls for prioritizing long-term safety solutions. BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - A contentious funding debate in Barrow County has ignited community concern over proposed changes to school safety staffing, with parents rallying to oppose a county plan that would cut funding for school resource officers. SEE ALSO: Barrow County approves $182M budget for 2026 with no tax increase What we know The Barrow County Board of Commissioners is moving to scale back its share of funding for school resource officers, planning to support only 12 of the 25 positions beginning July 1. That marks a sharp reversal from a cost-sharing agreement established in 2017, in which the county and school board evenly split the cost of school-based law enforcement. The decision comes just months after the Board of Education approved eight new officers in the wake of a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School — an event that intensified community demands for heightened school security. What they're saying "Our students deserve to feel supported, safe and respected now more than ever," one parent said during a community rally Monday night. "Announcing budget cuts and reductions during the summer, when students should be enjoying a break, adds unnecessary stress and sends the wrong message about our priorities." The proposed shift would place more than $800,000 in additional costs on the Barrow County School Board to continue the existing level of officer staffing. School officials have stated they remain committed to keeping the SRO program in place. "We are confident the Board of Education will provide a safe and secure school environment for students in Barrow County with effective and efficient use of taxpayer money," another parent said. What's next During the rally, families urged elected officials to prioritize long-term solutions that reflect the county's values and maintain transparency throughout the process. The county government says the budget proposal remains under review and will be finalized in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, families with children in the district say they are left waiting — and worrying — about how the final decision will affect campus safety. SEE ALSO: Barrow County Board of Education stands firm on SRO program amid funding dispute Apalachee High School graduates remember victims during ceremony Apalachee High shooting: Judge rules on Colin Gray venue change request New scholarship honors coach killed in Apalachee HS shooting Apalachee HS hosts 'Barrow Together' event thanking community for support after shooting The Source The details in this article come from a rally on spending by Barrow County Schools. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used.
