BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Attorneys are starting to file lawsuits on behalf of those killed or injured during the deadly Apalachee High School shooting in 2024.
Attorneys representing at least seven families filed complaints in Barrow County’s civil court system this month.
Three of those suits are connected to those who died in the massacre.
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Andrew Rogers is the attorney representing the family of Christian Angulo, one of two 14-year-old students killed in the rampage.
Darren Summerville is listed as the attorney representing Mason Schermerhorn’s family, the second 14-year-old killed in the school.
Matthew Cathey is listed as the attorney for Richard Aspinwall’s family, the math teacher and football coach who died due to the shooting.
The family of the second math teacher killed in the school, Cristina Irimie, has not filed a suit at this time, according to court records.
The four other lawsuits are connected to students who survived the shooting.
Shellea Huff, with Morgan & Morgan, is the attorney representing one of those families.
In a statement shared with Channel 2 Action News, the firm wrote:
“We hope to get justice for her and her family and to raise awareness of the critical obligation schools have to act quickly when faced with a credible threat of violence.”
Huff’s complaint is against the Barrow County School System and Apalachee High School Principal Jessica Rehberg.
“Before any of Defendant Barrow Schools officials initiated the lockdown procedure of the school building or before Colt Gray was apprehended by Defendant Barrow County Schools officials or other officials working on the school building premises, Colt Gray began targeting individuals in the school to shoot,” the complaint reads. “Even once the lockdown was activated, Colt Gray was able to gain access to a classroom because the classroom door was unlocked.”
The family of the same student also filed a lawsuit against the shooter and his parents, Marcee and Colin Gray.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Schermerhorn’s family also lists the shooter and his parents as responsible defendants as well as the school district and principal.
It also names investigators within the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The complaint says they failed to notify nearby school districts about a school threat Colt Gray made there in 2023.
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The lawsuit filed on behalf of Angulo’s family names the Gray family, school district, principal and several unnamed parties.
Their attorney spoke to Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco after a jury convicted the shooter’s father, Colin Gray, in connection to the crime.
He said then, “At every stage of failure, to prevent what happened, there’s also an opportunity to learn.”
The Aspinwall family lawsuit is similar in that way. It names the Gray family, school district, principal and several unnamed parties as well.
In it, the attorney writes, “… Defendant Jessica Rehberg and other Barrow County School System officials negligently failed to initiate a hard lockdown before the shooting began and therefore breached their mandatory, ministerial duty.”
The Barrow County School System shared a statement with Channel 2 Action News that read:
“Christian Angulo, Mason Schermerhorn, Richard Aspinwall, Cristina Irimie, and all who are hurting and healing are forever held with care in our hearts.
Thank you for understanding that we cannot comment on pending litigation, investigations, or court proceedings.
We remain focused on the well-being of our students, staff, and families, while working together with our community to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all.“
Francisco has reached out to Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and staff and attorneys representing the Gray family for responses to the civil filings.
No comments have been received at this time.
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