The father of a 14-year-old boy accused of killing four people in a high school shooting in Georgia has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder.
Colin Gray, 54, is facing four charges of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight charges of cruelty to children. Authorities have connected these charges to his son’s actions, suggesting Gray “knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon.”
Gray’s son, Colt Gray, has been accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, killing two teachers and two students on Wednesday. The victims have been identified as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Nine others were injured in the attack, but all are expected to recover, according to officials.
Colt Gray, who has been charged as an adult under Georgia law, is due in court on Friday. He faces four counts of murder, a severe charge typically reserved for serious offenses committed by minors over the age of 13. Investigators are probing whether Colin Gray purchased the AR-style rifle used in the shooting as a Christmas gift for his son in December 2023. The charges against the father mark one of the most severe legal actions taken against a parent in a school shooting case.
Authorities had previously been alerted to potential warning signs involving Colt Gray. In May 2023, the FBI notified local police of online threats linked to Colt, involving a social media account containing images of guns. The account also referenced the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. At the time, Colt denied any intent to carry out an attack, and his father assured police that his son did not have unsupervised access to firearms.
Despite the earlier investigation, it is alleged that Colin Gray bought the weapon for his son just months later. The incident is being compared to a similar case in Michigan, where the parents of a teenage school shooter were sentenced to prison for their involvement in providing access to the firearm used in a 2021 school shooting.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Barrow County community remains in shock, grappling with the loss of two students and two educators. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, with authorities sifting through evidence, including documents found in Colt’s room related to other school shootings.
Both father and son are expected to appear in court on Friday, marking a significant moment in the case that has drawn national attention due to the involvement of a parent. The legal outcome could set new precedents for parental responsibility in mass shootings.
BBC, CNN, New York Post contributed to this report.
