WINDER, Georgia – A law enforcement expert has stepped in following the tragic mass shooting at a small Georgia high school that left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured on Wednesday.
Matthew Fagiana, a retired police sergeant and law enforcement consultant, told Fox News Digital that responding officials are focusing on the 14-year-old suspect's past and motive early in the investigation.
“Things like the timeline of the incident, a chronological history of the suspect leading up to the shooting, a deep look into the suspect's past for things like interactions with victims, the existence of any indication of violent behavior, statements or social media posts that could help them develop a motive and a recent internet history,” he said.
“And that, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg of the investigation,” he added.
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A law enforcement officer works near the scene of a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, 2024. (Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage)
Fagiana said responding agencies, including the FBI's Atlanta field office and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, are combing the scene at Apalachee High School to build an “accurate picture” of the suspect's path through the school.
“I can only assume that the crime scene at the school is quite large,” he said. “Those types of scenes require very meticulous examination and evidence collection, things like recording the location of evidence, spent casings. They're going to reconstruct the scene and be able to show an accurate picture of the suspect's entry and his path throughout the shooting.”
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The 14-year-old suspect turned himself in to authorities and was arrested after the attack. Authorities said he is expected to be charged as an adult with murder.
“An important aspect of the suspect's arrest will be the interviews he or she gives to investigators,” he said. “Whenever we have someone who commits a mass murder, one of the most important questions we try to answer is 'why.' And since many school shooters commit suicide or are killed by law enforcement to prevent further harm to others, we are often left without a 'why' and can only develop theories based on their story and any evidence they leave behind.”
“So when a suspect is arrested, law enforcement and experts at many levels hope to use their statements and assessments as an opportunity to mitigate the likelihood of these crimes happening again. I think most people would agree that there is something psychological about people who commit these types of crimes that is different from what most of us have — people who would never consider doing something like this.”
Police arrive as students are evacuated to the football stadium after the school campus was placed on lockdown at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)
Fagiana highlighted the importance of the school resource officers (SROs) who took the student into custody, saying they “saved lives.”
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“While we don't have all the details of the response yet, it's safe to assume that at the time the school security officer took the suspect into custody, more lives were likely saved,” he said. “There are examples across the United States of school security officers being a very important adjunct to school safety and the safety of our children and teachers. It's an important piece of the puzzle in our effort to mitigate the likelihood of school shootings.”
Students and staff gather next to the football field after law enforcement officers responded to a fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in a still image from aerial video in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, 2024. (ABC affiliate WSB via REUTERS)
He stressed the importance of balancing the sensitivity of the victims' families and informing the community.
“At this time, an extremely important priority is to support the families of the victims. They are suffering and need answers, and law enforcement will remain committed to addressing their needs in the days ahead,” Fagiana said.
“At this stage, law enforcement has several communication objectives. The main one is to inform and listen to the people in their community who are directly affected by this. And of course the next is to inform the media and communities around the world who are watching.
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“Law enforcement will work hard to find a balance between providing the information they have and also protecting the integrity of the investigation,” he said. “There is a person who will be tried for murder and their goal is to make sure that any information they release publicly now does not threaten the successful prosecution of this suspect.”
The FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
