nbc's dan scheneman brings us more. >> reporter: at school, they had just started near atlanta when shots were fired. >> it was just like a loud boom as if a locker had slammed. so my teacher thought it was some kid acting foolish. so she took a peek outside. and we heard repeatedly the banging again. that's when we could identify it was a gun. >> reporter: law enforcement swarmed to the scene, while students sheltered in their classrooms. >> the hard lockdown was placed. and then we ran to the back of the classroom, turned off the lights. i was shaking. >> reporter: authorities say there are four dead. two students, two teachers. soon after officers arrived, they took the suspect into custody. >> he is a 14-year-old student here at the high school. again, he has been taken into custody. he will be charged with murder, and he will be tried as an adult. >> reporter: after a lockdown was lifted, parents and guardians arrived. students were released. >> i feel sorry for the kids, that they've to experience such evil. >> reporter: kathleen hardrick checked on her neighbor. >> he's like, they'

dan scheneman, nbc news. >> dan, thank you. >>> just a week before the shooting, apalachee high school put in place a new panic alarm system. officials say that move prevented an even greater tragedy. as tom winter reports, advocates for the technology now want it installed in schools nationwide. >> reporter: just a week before the shooting at apalachee high school, the county put in a new system to alert law enforcement during emergencies. so, when teachers heard shots, several immediately pressed what amounts to panic button. >> the teachers each have an i.d. with their picture on it, and they have a button, and they press it so many times, and it alerts us and sends a gps coordinate. >> reporter: it's called centegix. an app-based system is called safer watch. >> i hit this button here and, say, it's an active shooter, hold this down for three seconds. it's instantly notifying law enforcement. and they're able to see who reported the emergency, exactly where it's happening. let me give you a real-life example. there's an armed person jump over a fence, the teacher pressed the panic

dan scheneman, nbc news. >>> now to israel where thousands are protesting on the streets demanding a cease-fire and hostage deal, but prime minister benjamin netanyahu is offering no concessions. in a new press conference, the hard-liner insisted on putting troops at the egypt-gaza border, a non-starter for hamas in gaza. what else did netanyahu have to say to journalists? >> reporter: good morning, frances. well, netanyahu, at that press conference said he wanted israel to keep controlling the philadelphi corridor and after the war, because it doesn't want to give hamas a lifeline through there. he said he's against the temporary withdrawal, as it is included in the first part of the deal from the philadelphi corridor, because the israeli army will not be able to go back there because of international pressure. raf sanchez, our own rauf sanchz was there at the conference and asked why did it take so many months for the israeli army to seize it. this is what netanyahu responded. >> well, it was critical, also, to destroy hamas, to kill about 20,000 of their, of their operatives. this

dan scheneman, nbc news. >>> the president's son has pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in a surprise move. in january, hunter biden pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to pay millions in taxes from 2016 to 2019. the guilty plea, which involved no deal with the government came just before jury selection was about to begin. hunter biden's lawyer says he chose to do this to protect those he love from the humiliation of a trial. >>> trump is expected to appear in a new york courtroom today. he will face e. jean carroll before a panel of judges as the former president plans to appeal or tries to reduce the judgment. also a decision on the timing of mr. trump's sentencing in his hush money conviction. judge juan merchan is expected to rule on a motion to push that sentencing until after the election. meanwhile, there are new developments in the election interference case. jack smith was given until december 26 to submit a brief, explaining the government's argument for mr. trump not being immune from the charges. the new timeline set by the judge yesterday makes it unlikely t