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

Coach John Beam during football practice at Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 5, 2000. (Kendra Luck/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Credit: AP

College football coach John Beam from ‘Last Chance U’ has died after being shot

Police in Oakland, California, say Laney College football coach John Beam, known from Netflix's “Last Chance U,” has died after being shot on campus

Cowboys have Marshawn Kneeland on their minds as they get back to the business of football

The Dallas Cowboys have Marshawn Kneeland on their minds as they get back to the business of football

Cowboys back at work outside view of media after death of Marshawn Kneeland

The Dallas Cowboys are back at work coming off their open week, absent the usual media presence as the club starts the process of returning to the field following the death of

The Latest

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

Homicides down, police staffing up heading into Atlanta’s elections

Cobb mother gets 50 years in prison for toddler’s fentanyl death

Georgia judge resigns after Florida strip club arrest

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.