Increased police presence in place as classes set to resume at scene of fatal Georgia school shooting

BARROW COUNTY, GA - A week after a deadly school shooting where two students and two teachers were killed, police are increasing their security presence at schools across the district as classes are set to resume this week, Fox News Digital reports. 

Superintendent of Schools Dallas LeDuff confirmed the increased police presence in a statement issued last week. Classes resumed Tuesday. 

“We believe we need to be together as soon as possible to move forward to provide some sense of familiarity for our students,” the statement said. “We know these are challenging times, and we are here for you,” he continued. “We will have extra support and security, including more law enforcement, at each of our schools.” 

Fox News Digital contacted the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office for comment about the increased police presence and its duration. No response was received. 

This past weekend, a memorial vigil for the victims was held, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. The outlet reported that hundreds of people gathered to pay homage to the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting. Those victims include the two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie. 

One of those who attended was Dan Beazley, who drove from Michigan to show his support. “This community is in dire need of hope, healing, and love,” Beazley told Fox 5 News while leaning against a ten-foot tall cross he brought as a symbol of love and light. 

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith marveled at the show of support from the community. “I see community. I see people that love one another and care for one another,” Sheriff Smith said. 

While some politicians used the tragedy to implement stricter gun controls once again, State Rep. Mike Collins pushed back. 

“I don’t think you can legislate evil and hate away,” he said while praising efforts to harden schools like Apalachee. 

Meanwhile, students and colleagues remembered the victims. Aspinwall, 39, was a high school math teacher and assistant football coach, serving as the school’s defensive coordinator. 

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,” sophomore football player Isaiah Hooks said. “So, turning around, knowing that he’s not going to be there.” 

Fox 5 reported that Irimie, a math teacher at the high school, was not only an educator at the school but also a beloved figure in the Romanian community of Gwinnett and Barrow counties. She was 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, expressed grief over her death. “Sometimes, we look around, and we hear about tragedies happening. Well, this time, it happened to us. It’s one of our people, and it’s becoming very personal.” 

Fox 5 reported that Christian Angulo, 14, was remembered as a free spirit who loved to make others laugh. 

“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, a friend of Angulo’s since middle school. “I started asking 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 continued. 

Finally, Mason Schermerhorn, 14, was described by his sister, Alanna Wallace, as someone who loved fun and games. 

“PS5 and his VR headset,” she said. “He loved playing Roblox and Genshin. He had just started learning to play trumpet, and he did it because I play trumpet. He said he wanted to be like me when he got older.” Schermerhorn also loved amusement parks, Disney and Universal in particular. 

While many outlets have focused on the shooter, Law Enforcement Today will not.