Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised in support of the victims and families impacted by the deadly mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.
The shooting left four people dead – two students and two teachers – and nine others hospitalized.
The online fundraising platform GoFundMe has launched a centralized hub housing its verified fundraisers related to the shooting. Through fundraisers posted by family and friends, new information about the victims is being revealed. And while nothing can replace the lives lost nor fully explain the senseless violence that visited Winder on Wednesday, it is clearly important to those who knew and loved the victims that they are honored and remembered for how they lived, not just how they died.
Christian Angulo
Christian Angulo, a freshman, is described by friends and family as “a very good kid and very sweet and so caring.” Facebook posts from friends say he was a free spirit with a “chill” attitude.
“He was a very good kid and very sweet and so caring. He was so loved by many,” Lisette Angulo, Christian’s older sister, wrote on the GoFundMe page for Christian’s funeral services.
Mason Schermerhorn
Mason Schermerhorn, who had autism, was a freshman at Apalachee High School. His GoFundMe page describes him as “the sweetest most loving soul with the biggest smile and will be missed dearly.”
He was described in several Facebook Posts as someone who had “an upbeat attitude about everything.”
Family members had circulated the 14-year-old’s photo on social media after they couldn’t reach him after the shooting.
“If he is escalated, PLEASE use a calm voice with him,” family members wrote on social media. “Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”
Ricky Aspenwall
Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall, also known as “Coach A,” was a math teacher and assistant football coach for the Apalachee Wildcats. He leaves behind his wife, Shayna, and two young daughters.
“It’s just so hard to think that somebody that you spent so much time with because this is my second year with a coach, but spending so much time, like family basically,” said sophomore football player Isaiah Hooks. “So, turning around, knowing that he’s not going to be there.”
Aspinwall was a native of Rome, Georgia. According to the AJC, Aspinwall coached at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville and Dunwoody High School before taking over as defensive coordinator at Apalachee in 2023.
His friend and colleague Brandon Gill, teacher and coach at Mountain View High School, posted on Facebook, “This is a horrific day that will be nearly impossible to ever get over. I’m grateful that he was my friend, colleague, neighbor, and brother for so long. I’ll cherish all of our memories together but it will never be the same. I ask that everyone pray for his amazing wife and beautiful daughters. Today hurts and it will never make sense.”
Christina Irimie
Christina Irmie was part of the math department at Apalachee High School. Students described the 53-year-old teacher as patient and caring.
