A last-minute decision may have saved a 10th grader's life at Apalachee High School, where moments later, a teenaged gunman unleashed a deadly rampaged that left the student wondering what might have been.
"I thought I was going to die," the student told 11Alive.
That was the terrifying account of a 10th-grader at Apalachee High School, who revealed he was about to head to the bathroom moments before the gunman opened fire-but decided against it.
"I was going to go to the bathroom right before it happened," he said, adding, "I'm so glad I didn't because I'd probably be dead right now if I did."
The alleged gunman, 14-year-old Colt Gray, is accused of causing multiple deaths and injuries using a platformed AR-15 rifle during his rampage at the Georgia high school, according to 4029TV.
"I know my teacher. He got shot," the 10th-grader told the news outlet.
"I know one of my friend's friends got shot in the leg. I don't know everyone, but I know some people that were shot."
He recalled the horrifying moment when he heard the gunshots followed by screams.
"I heard gunshots, and then my teacher told us to get in the corner. I heard screaming and police officers like, 'Get down!'"
Parents waited hours to be reunited with their children, who were evacuated to the school's football field amid the frenzied chaos.
"Obviously the shooter was armed, and our school resource officer engaged him, and the shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up, that it would end with an OIS (officer-involved shooting)," Sheriff Smith said, detailing the confrontation.
"He gave up, got on the ground, and the officer took him into custody."
During the press conference on Wednesday night, investigators said they are still investigating how the suspect got an "AR-platform style weapon" into the school, reported WISN.
