Georgia shooting live updates: Multiple casualties reported at Apalachee High School

In an update on social media the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that four people had been killed in the school shooting in Barrow County on Wednesday.

The Bureau added that an additional nine taken to various hospitals with injuries and that the suspect was “in custody and alive.”

“Reports that the suspect has been ‘neutralized’ are inaccurate,” the GBI statement said.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said that the process of finding answers as to why the shooting at Apalachee High School could “take days.”

“We are asking for your patience … please let us get the facts that we need to make sure we get this right,” he said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

“This is going to take multiple days for us to get answers as to what happened and why this happened.”

CNN reports that the shooting suspect is “school-aged” but uncertain whether they attended Apalachee High School.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was “devastated” by the shooting incident at the Apalachee High School on Wednesday.

“We are still gathering information… but I am devastated for the families affected by this terrible tragedy,” he told reporters.

“The Justice Department stands ready to provide any resources or support that the Winder community needs in the days ahead,” he added.

Barrow County Sheriff Jed Smith said that authorities were still in the process of reuniting students with their parents following the incident.

“We’re in the process of reunifying our students with their parents. Obviously, that’s chaotic, but we want to be respectful of them and their privacy as well,” he told reporters.

The sheriff’s office is due to provide further updates at a press conference at 4pm.

CNN has reported that four people have died and around 30 others were believed to be injured in the shooting.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith did not provide exact details on the number of victims.

At a brief press conference Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith described the incident as “evil” and confirmed that multiple people were injured in the shooting.

“We’re not releasing any information as far as injuries, but we have multiple injuries. This is a very, very fluid investigation. It’s very early,” he said.

Smith also confirmed that at suspect was in custody.

Tim Walz acknowldged the “tragic” incident at the Georgia high school ahead of a campaign event in Pennsylvania.

“Before we get started, our team just briefed me on this, we have a school shooting going on in Georgia at this time – we’re on it, and the White House has been briefed on it,” he said.

“This is tragic. We don’t know any of the details on it yet, but it’s a situation that’s all too common and and our hearts are out there right now… Our work needs to be to prevent these in the future as we know. I know it’s a little bit of a heavy heart for all.”