When a gunman began shooting outside Stephanie Reyna’s classroom at Apalachee High School in Georgia, claiming the life of math teacher and football coach Richard Aspinwall, her classmates quickly sprang into action. They shut and barricaded the classroom door, doing everything they could to stay safe.
The terrifying situation unfolded when Reyna, 17, recalled hearing loud banging on the lockers just outside their door. Another student, Brayan Maldonado, also 17, thought it sounded as if someone had been slammed against the lockers.
“Coach Aspinwall opened the door and rushed out to see what was happening,” Reyna told media.
Moments later, the class heard unsettling popping noises. “We froze, unsure of what was going on. Then, we all ran to the back of the classroom and hid in the corner,” Reyna explained.
As they lay on the floor, Reyna and her 17 classmates heard more gunfire. It was then they realized their classroom door was still open.
Maldonado described hearing faint breathing and groaning sounds before the students noticed their teacher on the ground.
“He was lying in the doorway, trying to crawl back to us,” Reyna said. “We believe he was attempting to reach us.”
Minutes later, Aspinwall’s breaths became shallow, and the class heard what they believed were his final breaths.
One brave classmate stood up and pulled Aspinwall’s body into the classroom. Inspired by the act of courage, Maldonado also rose and helped barricade the door with cabinets, desks, and chairs.
“We used anything we could to block the entrance and make sure the shooter couldn’t get in,” Maldonado said.
With the door secured, both Reyna and Maldonado worked to comfort their shaken classmates. “Some were hyperventilating, others were crying,” Maldonado said. “I tried to calm everyone down, and once they were calm, the weight of the situation hit me.”
First responders soon evacuated the students to another classroom before moving them to the football field, where they were reunited with the rest of the school.
In the tragic incident, Aspinwall, fellow teacher Christina Irimie, and two students lost their lives. Nine others were injured.
Read More: Suspect Apprehended After Shooting Sparks Lockdown at Apalachee High School
The suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the school, surrendered to school resource officers at the scene. He was taken into custody and charged with four counts of felony murder. Authorities confirmed Gray will be tried as an adult, though his motive remains unknown.
