Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

When the Apalachee football team takes the field, ‘The Rock’ will be there

The actor plans to show up Friday for the team’s first home game since the mass shooting.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said he will attend the Barrow County school's Friday night football game against Jackson County.

Credit: Kevork Djansezian / AP

Credit: Kevork Djansezian / AP

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said he will attend the Barrow County school's Friday night football game against Jackson County.
By
Oct 4, 2024

The Rock plans to keep his promise.

Days after the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson met with the football team. The team’s defensive coordinator and math teacher, Ricky Aspinwall, was among four people killed in the Sept. 4 shooting. Math teacher Cristina Irimie and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo also died while nine others were injured, police said.

The student-athletes were still hurting when they were greeted by The Rock. But it was the actor who said he was “blown away” by their spirit.

On Friday night, the world-famous celebrity plans to attend the team’s first home game since the shooting.

“These players, coaches, teachers, the entire community and ALL the students at Apalachee are the symbol of resilience, love and strength,” the actor posted on Instagram on Friday. “I promised them, I would be there tonight for them — and I will.”

Apalachee will host Jackson County at 7:30 p.m.

About the Author

Alexis Stevens is a member of the Crime and Public Safety team.

Follow Alexis Stevens on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Kicker Parker Romo is set to sign with the Atlanta Falcons for their practice squad Tuesday, according to NFL media. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Falcons sign kicker Parker Romo to practice squad

Coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons would hold tryouts and bring in competition for kicker Younghoe Koo, who missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt on Sunday.

Dirty Birds Dispatch: Assessing the Younghoe Koo era

The Falcons have to figure out if it’s time to walk away from kicker Younghoe Koo.

Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing has been caught, Trump says

The suspect in custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a 22-year-old from Utah

The Latest

A Spalding County woman who has been imprisoned the past 11 years for a child abuse conviction is entitled to a new trial, a judge has ruled. The case is set to be argued before the Georgia Supreme Court in November. (File)

Credit: TNS

Mother imprisoned more than a decade gets bond ahead of possible new trial

Fulton sheriff: ‘People will continue to die’ if city ends jail lease

‘Never had the evidence’: Georgia man acquitted of murder in twisty cold case

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A Braves fan took a ball to the face. The team may be liable, judges say.

The Atlanta Braves and former right fielder Jorge Soler face a lawsuit by a fan hit in the eye with a ball during a World Series game at Truist Park in 2021.

Joro spiders multiply across Georgia, spinning their pesky webs

The invasive species has multiplied rapidly in Atlanta in the last three years, research shows.

Ford settles billion-dollar Georgia lawsuits over fatal wrecks

Ford Motor Co. has settled two Georgia lawsuits that elicited record-setting jury verdicts of $1.7 billion and $2.5 billion, ending more than a decade of litigation.