What We Know About the 2 Students, 2 Teachers Killed in Georgia School Shooting: 'So Loved by Many'

Mar. 15, 2025

Clockwise from top left: Christian Angulo, Richard Aspinwall, Christina Irimie, Mason Schermerhorn.

A Georgia community was upended when agunman opened fire on a local high school, killing two students and two teachers.

Nine others were hospitalized after the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., located about 50 miles outside Atlanta.

Shots were first reported just before 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 5, mere weeks after the school year began. The chaotic scene resulted in a school lockdown, as dozens of police and first responders swarmed the building.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith called the shooting an act of “pure evil” and vowed that “hate will not prevail.”

Thefour victims killedin the shooting were two 14-year-olds and two teachers in the math department, one of whom also doubled as an assistant football coach.

Mason Schermerhorn

The 14-year-old was one of two students who were killed in the shooting, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed.

Doug Kilburn, a family friend, told theNew York Timesthat Schermerhorn had recently started at Apalachee High School. He remembered the boy as someone who enjoyed spending time with his family, telling jokes, playing video games, and taking trips to Walt Disney World.

Mason Schermerhorn.

“He really enjoyed life,” Kilburn told theTimes. “He always had an upbeat attitude about everything.”

Another family friend recalled the moment he learned of Schermerhorn’s death from the boy’s mother.

“My heart just dropped,” Louis Briscoe said, per theTimes. “He added, “Nobody should have to go through this type of pain.”

Christian Angulo

On aGoFundMecampaign created to help offset funeral expenses, Angulo’s sister confirmed his death and said his loss was “so sudden and unexpected.”

The fundraiser has already exceeded its $30,000 goal as of Thursday, Sept. 5. Classmates remembered the freshman as someone who was “funny” and had a “chill attitude,”Fox 5 Atlantareported.

Christian Angulo.gofundme

gofundme

Angulo’s close friend said he was “in denial” after learning that Angulo had died.

“I started asking other people if it was true that he had passed away because I just wanted to know,” Abner Sanz told Fox 5 Atlanta. “I was in denial because you would never believe somebody that you knew would pass away just like that.”

Richard Aspinwall

Math teacher Aspinwall, 39, was one of two instructors killed in the shooting. He was also the high school football team’s defensive coordinator and a father to two girls.

“As our community, school, and football program begins the mourning process we are so grateful for the outpouring of support,” Apalachee Footballsaid in a post on X(formerly Twitter). “To our beloved defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall, we will carry you heavy in our hearts. We love you Coach A!!!”

Apalachee head football coach Mike Hancock told theAthens Banner-Heraldthat Aspinwall was one of his first hires when he took over the job last year.

Richard Aspinwall.apalachee High School

apalachee High School

“He was a great dad, man, and a great father,” Hancock told the paper. “He loved his two girls and he loved his wife. He did happen to love the game of football and he was well respected around this area.”

Ariel Bowling, a student at the school, toldTodaythat Aspinwall was her math teacher.

“I would just want people to know that he was a really kind-hearted man,” she told the show. “He would really push you and he was just really hard-working and he just had [the] kindest soul ever.”

AGoFundMestarted to raise money for Aspinwall’s wife and kids has raised nearly $140,000.

Christina Irimie

Irimie taught algebra at Apalachee. The 53-year-old always made her students “feel welcome” and told plenty of jokes, a student toldCBS Mornings.

“She really made you feel welcome and she’ll help you out,” Isaac Sanguma told the show. “I’m not really good at math but I’m just understanding the math, three weeks into school. She was really nice.”

According to theAtlanta Journal-Constitution,Irimie was a native of Romania and was active in Georgia’s Romanian community, eventually working as a dance instructor.

Christina Irimie.Apalachee High School

Apalachee High School

Nicolae Clempus, a fellow Romanian expat, told the paper that when he moved to the United States, Irimie was someone who helped welcome him to the country.

“She was always very joyful, always happy,” Clempus said, per the paper. “If you hear somebody laughing, Christina was in the middle of it.”

source: people.com