The first victim in Wednesday’s tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia has been identified as special education math teacher David Phenix.
“We are so thankful for all the texts, calls, and messages about my dad, David Phenix. There was a shooting this morning at Apalachee High School and my dad was shot in the foot and in the hip, shattering his hip bone,” his daughter Katie wrote in a Facebook update about her dad’s condition.
“He arrived to the hospital alert and awake. He just got out of surgery and is stable. We will update as we hear new information. We are so, so lucky, but please keep our family as well as the AHS family in your prayers.”
Special education math teacher David Phenix was identified as the first victim. Alapachee High School
Phenix was shot in the foot and in the hip, according to a Facebook post from his daughter. Facebook/Katie Phenix
Phenix’s daughter confirmed on Facebook that her father is out of surgery and is in stable condition. Facebook/Katie Phenix
First responders outside of Apalachee High School after the mass shooting.
Although Phenix survived the shooting, at least four others died at the hands of the gunman — believed to be as young as 14 — who also wounded 30 others.
Nine of those injured were hospitalized, however, officials have not provided any updates on their conditions.
Students gathered in a prayer circle after being evacuated to the football field. WRDW
Students waiting to be picked up by their parents after being evacuated from the high school. Getty Images
An ambulance seen outside of Apalachee High School. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images
Parents walking students out of the high school. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockPhenix, of Loganville, had been teaching at the school for just over a year, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has been a schoolteacher for 23 years.
Gunfire erupted at the high school, located about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, around 10:30 a.m. after authorities received a report of an active shooter.
Dozens of police from various agencies swarmed the scene and the shooter was taken into custody alive, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith speaking to the press after the shooting. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty ImagesBy 11:30 a.m. students were being released from campus, which had been placed on lockdown, a spokesperson for the Barrow County School District told The Post at the time.
Meanwhile, other schools in the district were put under a “soft lockdown,” school district officials said.
At least two people were seen being loaded into medical helicopters and evacuated, FOX5 reported.
An injured person being evacuated from the school by a helicopter. Fox 5 AtlantaAn adult with a gunshot wound and a minor with unspecified injuries were rushed to a hospital in Athens, CNN reported.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that he and first lady Jill Biden were mourning those killed.
“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,” the president said.
Biden said his administration is coordinating with authorities at the federal, state and local level.
The deadly shooting came just over a month after Barrow County students returned to classes on Aug. 1.
Apalachee High School, which opened in 2000, is the largest school in the county, with a total enrollment of 1,919 students as of March 2024, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing data from the Georgia Department of Education.
