In a tragic development in Winder, Georgia, the father of a 14-year-old boy accused of carrying out a deadly school shooting has been arrested. 54-year-old Colin Gray now faces serious charges including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. These charges are connected to his son’s alleged actions in a tragic incident at Apalachee High School that left two teachers and two students dead. On Thursday evening, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Director Chris Hosey announced that the charges against Colin Gray are directly connected to the actions of his son Colt Gray. According to Hosey, these charges are related to “allowing him to have a weapon,” which played a central role in the shooting. The shooting that took place on Wednesday morning has shaken the community of Winder, a small town near Atlanta. Colt Gray, now charged as an adult with four murders, is accused of entering Apalachee High School and opening fire, killing teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimi, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. The horrific details of the attack, including the suspect’s attempt to re-enter a locked classroom, have added to the trauma of the incident.
Authorities are investigating whether Colin Gray purchased the AR-style rifle used in the shooting as a gift for his son in December 2023. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether the weapon was purchased with the knowledge it would be used by Colt.
The shooting has brought to light previous warnings and interactions with law enforcement. In May 2023, the FBI alerted local authorities to online threats related to a potential school shooting. These threats were linked to an email address associated with the suspect, Colt Gray. Following these alerts, sheriff’s deputies spoke with the boy, who was 13 years old at the time.
During the interview, Colt’s father, Colin Gray, assured the deputy that while there were guns in his home, his son did not have unsupervised access to them. Despite these assurances, the subsequent investigation and Wednesday’s tragic events have raised questions about the veracity of these claims. The FBI had noted that threats related to school shootings had been made on Discord, a social media platform popular among gamers, and included pictures of firearms. The account in question used a profile name in Russian, a reference to the Sandy Hook Elementary School attacker, which added a sinister layer to the threat.
Colt Gray’s behavior during the May 2023 interview was described as “restrained” and “calm,” and he reportedly assured the deputy that he had not made any threats. He claimed to have deleted his Discord account due to repeated hacking incidents. Colin Gray had also told deputies that his son was being bullied at school and was struggling with his parents’ separation. Police records show that Colt was living with his father during divorce proceedings.
The tragic shooting has shown similarities to previous cases of school shootings where parents have faced legal consequences. In April of this year, James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan teen who carried out a similar attack, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for their role in the tragedy. The case was notable because it was one of the first cases where parents were held criminally liable for the mass shooting of their child.
Colin Gray’s arrest has sparked discussions about parental responsibility and gun control. The charges against Gray underscore broader issues with how firearms are stored and accessed, particularly by minors. The legal system will now determine the extent of Gray’s responsibility and whether he failed in his duty to prevent his son from accessing a weapon.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, the focus is on the victims’ recovery. According to Barrow County Sheriff Judd Smith, all nine individuals injured are expected to make a full recovery, with several already being discharged from the hospital.
The impact of the shooting is not limited to the immediate victims and their families, but also has an impact on the entire community. Winder, which is known for its close-knit atmosphere, now faces the difficult task of healing and addressing the underlying issues that led to this tragedy. The case is likely to spark further discussion about how to better prevent such incidents and how to hold accountable those who may have contributed to the incident.
In the wake of this tragedy, attention will focus on the court proceedings and the broader implications of gun safety and parental responsibility. The arrest of Colin Gray is just one aspect of a complex and devastating event that will continue to unfold in the months to come.