Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith called the return "a huge step for us healing" in a briefing with reporters ahead of an open house for students. "Unfortunately our most vulnerable were attacked — our kids and our teachers," he said. "But what evil did not plan for was the resiliency and the strength that they have."

Students and teachers at Apalachee High School returned to campus on Monday for the first time since police say a 14-year-old student shot and killed four people on school grounds.

On Monday, both students and their parents got a chance to tour the main campus and the temporary Chee East campus, for the first time since the deadly shooting.