Deaths after school shooting in Georgia, US

At least four people have died and potentially scores injured at shooting at a school in the US, just one day after the start of the school year.

‘Someone’s dead, mum’

Students have said they heard “screams” and were told to shelter in classrooms as the horror incident unfolded.

Mum Erin Clark said she received a text from her son Ethan Haney stating: “school shooting rn, (right now). I’m scared. I’m not joking”.Her son followed that up with “I love you” and after that with “someone’s dead”.

Ms Clark told CNN that her son heard up to nine shots before his classroom door was closed. Students blocked the door with chairs and tables.

Ethan made it out “OK,” his mum said on social media.

Talking to the US’ ABC News student Sergio Caldera, 17, said he was in chemistry class when he heard gunshots.

“My teacher goes and opens the door to see what’s going on. Another teacher comes running in and tells her to close the door because there’s an active shooter,” Caldera said.

The student said they heard screams from outside as they “huddled up”.

Images from Winder showed students coming together in a circle on a nearby football field after they evacuated the school.

‘An evil thing’

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith spoke to media outside the high school on Wednesday afternoon.

“What you see behind us is an evil thing today,” he told reporters.

“We have multiple injuries. This is a very fluid investigation and very early in the investigation”.

“Every minute this is developing,” he added.

The local police has asked the state’s GBI and Federal FBI to assist.

Hospitals have been receiving patients with gunshot wounds, CNN has reported.

Students were seen gathering and huddling at a football field close to the school.

 

Earlier, the school sent a message to parents saying it was “currently in a hard lockdown after reports of gunfire,” according to US media.

“Law enforcement is here. Please do not attempt to come to the school at this time while officers work to secure the area,” it added.

In a statement from the White House, President Biden said he had been briefed on the “tragic shooting”.

“What should have been a joyous back-to-school season in Winder, Georgia, has now turned into another horrific reminder of how gun violence continues to tear our communities apart,” he said.

“Students across the country are learning how to duck and cover instead of how to read and write. We cannot continue to accept this as normal”.