Atlanta, GA
Apalachee High School shooting victims | What we know
Apalachee High School shooting victims identified
During a second news briefing, the GBI identified the four victims killed in the shooting at Apalachee High School. Two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspenwall and Christina Irmie, lost their lives.
BARROW COUNTY, Ga. – Officials have released the names of the two teachers and two students killed during Wednesday’s shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.
The GBI identified the victims as Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, both math teachers, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14-years-old.
Richard Apsinwall: Dedicated coach
Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall was a math teacher and assistant football coach for the Apalachee Wildcats.
Richard Aspinwal (Supplied)
The 39-year-old Aspinwall is the team’s defensive coordinator, being hired in 2023.
“It’s just so hard to think that somebody that you spent so much time with, because this is my second year with coach, but spending so much time, like family basically,” said sophomore football player, Isaiah Hooks. “So, turning around, knowing that he’s not going to be there.”
He was previously at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville. The Mountain View HS Athletics posted a heartfelt message on its Facebook page:
“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. Mountain View extends its deepest condolences to the entire Apalachee High School community. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this tragic time.”
The Rome native was also previously a teacher at Dunwoody High School.
Buford High School football Coach Brandon Gill shared a photo of him with Coach Aspinwall to his X account writing:
“Unbelievably heart broken over the loss of our dear friend @CoachAwall … He was truly as great as they come. Helluva human being. Would do anything for anyone. Amazing husband, father, teacher and coach. I’ll never forget you, brother! RIP Rick-Bo”
Christina Irimie: Beloved math teacher
Christina Irimie (Supplied)
Christina Irmie was part of the math department at Apalachee High School.
Students described the 53-year-old teacher as patient and caring.
Mason Schermerhorn
Family members tell FOX 5 that Mason Schemerhorn was 14-years-old.
He was a freshman at Apalachee High School.
Christian Angulo
Freshman Christian Angulo was remembered by friends as a free spirit who loved to make others laugh. The 14-year-old was described as having a “chill” attitude, but was full of life and energy.
“I was just like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then I checked the family group chat and there’s my sister saying that there’s a shooting at Apalache and that’s how I was just like, ‘This isn’t real, this can’t be happening,’” said Abner Sanz, who has been friends with 14-year-old Christian Angulo since middle school. “I started asking other people if it was true that he had passed away because I just wanted to know. I was in denial because you would never believe somebody that you knew would pass away just like that,” Sanz said.
What we know about the Apalachee High School shooting
Kemp addresses Apalachee High School shooting
During a second press briefing on the shooting at Apalachee High School, Gov. Brian Kemp appeared with law enforcement, thanking law enforcement, first responders, and school officials, and calling the deadly shooting “everyone’s worst nightmare.”
Four people, two teachers and two students, were killed in the shooting at the high school, which is located about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. Nine other people were also injured and taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Investigators say the suspected shooter entered the building at around 10:20 a.m. and opened fire.
Law enforcement officers responded immediately and encountered the shooter, who dropped his weapon and surrendered.
Once in custody, the suspect was reportedly interviewed by investigators. A motive behind the shooting has not been revealed.
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All those transported to Northeast Georgia Health System’s hospitals in Barrow and Braselton have been treated and released, officials said.
Atlanta World Cup match faces Ebola safety protocols
The Democratic Republic of Congo soccer team is isolating in a training bubble ahead of its tournament match in Atlanta as international authorities implement strict 21-day travel bans and airport screenings to contain an Ebola outbreak, according to officials.
ATLANTA – The Democratic Republic of Congo national soccer team is coordinating with FIFA and U.S. officials to travel safely to its upcoming World Cup matches amid strict federal travel restrictions prompted by an Ebola outbreak.
World Cup health protocols
What we know:
The Democratic Republic of Congo soccer team has canceled its public send-off event due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country. The virus, which was first discovered in the northern region of the nation in 1976, has sickened more than 700 people and caused over 170 deaths during the current surge.
To bypass strict entry rules, the squad is currently training in Belgium and staying isolated inside a strict health bubble. Because team members are already in Europe and will not return to their home country before the tournament, health experts believe they can safely travel to the U.S.
FIFA announced it is actively monitoring the situation and communicating with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure all security and medical guidelines are strictly followed.
Outbreak travel restrictions
What we don’t know:
Neither federal officials nor the DRC Embassy have clarified exactly how many fans from the region were planning to travel to the U.S. or how many will be blocked by the strict border controls.
American screening procedures
Local perspective:
The team will initially arrive in Houston to train ahead of its first game on June 17, followed by a highly anticipated match in Atlanta on Saturday, June 27 versus Uzbekistan. Any non-citizen who has been inside the democratic republic of Congo within the last 21 days is expected to be denied entry into the U.S.
For Americans returning home from visiting the affected area, federal guidelines require them to fly specifically through Dulles International Airport in Washington to undergo rigorous medical screenings which include temperature checks and a detailed questionnaire.
Expert medical insights
What they’re saying:
Medical experts emphasize that the strict 21-day timeline is a proven window for tracking the virus. “Most of the time when someone is exposed, you rarely ever see the infection express itself beyond 21 days,” said Dr. Barney Graham at the Morehouse School of Medicine, who conducted some of the very first Ebola vaccine trials roughly 23 years ago. Graham noted that the virus requires close contact and does not transmit easily like COVID-19, adding, “Overall, I think people should feel very safe at the soccer matches.”
During a Friday news conference, the CDC reemphasized its layered health strategy. Capt. Satish Pillai, MD, of the CDC explained the federal response “is part of an overall, broader, layered public health approach, starting with exit screening, airline illness reports.” Pillai went on to say there will be subsequent decisions “based on the types of activities and where they were in transit, before any discussion, and of course, coordination with the ministries, with FIFA, and across the US government.”
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a CDC news conference, medical statements from the Morehouse School of Medicine, and an official tournament briefing from FIFA.
With eight matches upcoming, Mercedes-Benz Stadium sod will get strict maintenance.
The newly installed playing surface for the FIFA World Cup is watered at the stadium in Atlanta on May 21, 2026. The pitch is Kentucky bluegrass mixed with perennial ryegrass with artificial fibers stitched in. It came from a turf farm in Colorado. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
By Jaide Timm-Garcia – For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2 hours ago
Atlanta Stadium — as Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be known during the World Cup — has undergone its final makeover to become compliant with FIFA stadium standards after FIFA-approved grass was installed this week.
The rollout of the natural playing surface began last Friday and took four days to complete, according to Atlanta Stadium pitch venue manager Stuart Wilson.
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