BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — One of the four people who were shot and killed at Apalachee High School was the football team's defensive coordinator.
Richard Aspinwall, fondly known by his students as "Coach A," was identified as one of the teachers killed in the shooting on Wednesday. According to his profile, the 39-year-old was also a math teacher at the school.
The others killed during this shooting were teacher Cristina Irimie, 14-year-old student Mason Schermerhorn and 14-year-old student Christian Angulo, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Since the tragedy, the Apalachee football team has posted mournful messages, remembering the life of the beloved coach.
The following message was posted on the team's Facebook page:
"Waking up today... is a blessing to never be taken for granted again.
Apalachee is not just our school it's our home, it's our community. Our team is crushed by the loss of Coach A. They are devastated knowing this happened at their school. Some of us knew the other victims and some of us didn't but nonetheless they were Wildcats, they were family. Please pray for all the victims' families. Yesterday was a horrific day at Apalachee and every single Wildcat was affected by this tragedy. "
In a post on X, the school's football program said, "To our beloved defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall, we will carry you heavy in our hearts. We love you, Coach A!!!"
Another post from Mountain View High School stated that Aspinwall was a former coach at its school, adding their condolences.
Parent Angie Adams said that Aspinwall was her daughter's teacher.
"He loved his job and he loved those kids. He wanted all of them to succeed in his class and was going to make sure they did," Adams told 11Alive.
More on the tragedy
Law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter at 10:23 a.m., according to a release from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office. The situation unfolded rapidly, with multiple agencies arriving on the scene to manage the emergency and begin the investigation.
Authorities have confirmed that a 14-year-old suspect is in custody. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and other law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident to gather more details about the suspect and their possible motives.
"First and foremost, we wanna lift up our community, give our sympathies to our community, school system, kids, parents, that had to witness this today," Sheriff Jud Smith said. "Obviously, what you see behind us is an evil thing today."
Apalachee High School is located on Haymon Morris Road, just outside the city limits of Winder in Barrow County, Georgia. The school is part of the Barrow County School District, which also includes nearby schools such as Haymon Morris Middle School, Yargo Elementary School, and Cadence Academy Preschool.
11Alive is working to learn more about who Richard Aspinwall was and the legacy he leaves behind.