The father of 14-year-old Colt Gray, the suspect charged in the fatal shooting at Apalachee High School, has been arrested on multiple charges, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Colin Gray, 54, was taken into custody and charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to a statement by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The charges stem from the deadly attack allegedly carried out by his son, which left four people dead and several others wounded at the high school.
The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday when 14-year-old Colt Gray allegedly used a semiautomatic assault-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers. Nine others—eight students and one teacher—were wounded and taken to hospitals. All survivors are expected to recover, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed.
Authorities said Colin Gray’s charges are linked to his alleged role in allowing his son access to firearms. The GBI’s social media post revealed that a press conference is planned for later on Thursday to provide more details.
Prior Warnings and Missed Opportunities
Court documents and police reports have highlighted that Colt Gray had previously come under investigation in May 2023, after law enforcement received tips about concerning online behavior, including threats made through a Discord account. However, investigators at the time were unable to confirm any direct evidence to pursue charges.
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum, whose department handled the 2023 investigation, defended the decision, stating, “We did all we could with the information available at the time.”
Colin Gray had previously spoken about his son’s struggles with his parent’s separation and bullying at school, noting that Colt frequently participated in hunting activities with him. Sheriff investigators confirmed that Colt had access to guns at home, though Colin assured officers they were kept unloaded.
Arrest Follows Tragic School Shooting
On Wednesday, Colt Gray was arrested after allegedly carrying out the mass shooting at Apalachee High School, located in Winder, Georgia, about 45 miles outside of Atlanta. The victims have been identified as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how Colt obtained the firearm used in the attack or how he was able to bring it onto school grounds. The investigation into the school shooting remains ongoing, with the GBI focusing on possible prior warning signs and the extent of parental responsibility.
The school shooting is the 30th mass killing in the U.S. in 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press in partnership with USA Today and Northeastern University.
As more information is released, the incident has once again sparked a national debate about gun control and the responsibility of parents in cases involving minors with access to firearms.
