Apalachee High School shooting victims honored in services, some released from hospitals
Family and friends of the four victims of the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia, are holding funeral services in remembrance of the two students and two teachers killed last Wednesday. Of the nine people who sustained injuries, at least three have returned from hospitals.
Apalachee High School student Christian Angulo’s funeral service will be held on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. at the St. Matthew Catholic Church in Winder.
Funeral services for Mason Schermerhorn, another 14-year-old student at the school, will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Jefferson Civic Center in Jefferson, Georgia.
For Apalachee High School math teacher Cristina Irimie, Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel and Gardens in Buford, Georgia, will hold a viewing on Friday from 4-8 p.m. and a funeral service on Saturday at 2 p.m. Saint Constantine Helen Romanian Orthodox Church in Lilburn, Georgia, will hold a memorial meal following the funeral service at 5 p.m.
Apalachee High School football coach and math teacher Richard Aspinwall’s funeral services are private, but family and friends gathered at a celebration of life event for him on Sunday at the Flowery Branch High School’s football stadium.
Among the nine people who were injured and transported to the hospital following the shooting, at least three have been released.
Melany Garcia returned home over the weekend after two surgeries, according to the Facebook page of her mother, Jackelyn Garcia. A family friend organized a GoFundMe for her medical expenses.
“Melany went to see her soccer team practice yesterday,” Jackelyn Garcia wrote in a Wednesday post. “She is really sad she won’t be able to play right now, but I know just being there made her heart happy.”
Student Natalie Griffith was released from the hospital earlier this week, according to a GoFundMe page by Flo Tefteller, a family friend.
“Surgeons are happy to see that her wounds are healing properly. Natalie is beyond grateful for all the cards, flowers and donations that have been made,” Tefteller wrote in a recent update.
Apalachee High School soccer team player Ronaldo Vega, 14, was transported to the hospital after being scraped by three bullet fragments, according to a GoFundMe by his mother, Alejandra Vega. The freshman was released from the hospital last week.
David Phenix, a special education teacher in math at Apalachee High School, has been placed in the intensive care unit while recovering from his injuries. According to a Facebook post by his daughter, Katie Phenix, the educator may be released Wednesday.
In the wake of his recovery, Phenix’s daughter has started a digital card for people online to leave well wishes for him.
“Please say a prayer for us as we not only battle with the physical pain, but the emotional pain too,” she wrote in a Wednesday Facebook post.
Taylor Jones, a student at the school, was shot and airlifted to Grady Hospital following the shooting. Mackenzie Turner, Jones’ sister, started a GoFundMe to pay for the multiple surgeries and physical therapy the injuries will require.
“We still have a long road ahead of us with more surgeries and extensive PT. Thank you all for the love and support,” Turner wrote. “We still have a long road ahead of us. Anything helps, prayers included.”
A vigil for the victims of the shooting will take place Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Barrow County Historic Courthouse.
Jess Mador and DorMiya Vance contributed to this report.
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