The City of Winder held a vigil after the tragic school shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday that took the life of four people and injured nine others.
The vigil took place at Jug Tavern Park in Winder at 7 p.m. and featured state lawmakers, parents, students, and community members joining in support after the events that transpired.
AccessWDUN went live at the event and got community reactions.
“My experience was really surreal,” 15-year-old Apalachee student Christopher said. “Once the lockdown came on it just became blank from there.”
Christopher said he was in the band room across the school from the shooting reportedly carried out by 14-year-old Colt Gray. He added he was not able to get into contact with anyone because he did not have service.
AccessWDUN spoke to three students including Christopher on Wednesday. None of them said they knew Gray.
One student said off record after the lockdown ended after 3 p.m. that they only heard screaming, but no gunshots as the tragedy unfolded.
Another student said they knew the coach, 39-year-old Richard Aspinwall.
“This isn’t something that happens here this is something that you hear in Colorado or California or some place else but not Barrow County,” one adult male said at the vigil.
His wife said they lived in Winder for over 20 years and could have never imagined this would have happened.
“Hug your kids, I don’t care how old they are,” she said. “Let them know you love them.”
Christopher said that the vigil was eerie to some degree but it was also calming to see the support.
“I always grew up in a small county,” Christopher said. “Seeing everyone here being together it’s just really nice knowing that I feel the same comfort with everyone else and I can feel safe to some degree with everyone here.”
Barrow County schools will remain closed for the remainder of the week.
