Georgia father Colin Gray found guilty in son’s alleged deadly school shooting
Georgia father Colin Gray found guilty in son’s alleged deadly school shooting
A Georgia jury delivered a rare verdict on Tuesday, convicting Colin Gray, 55, of criminal responsibility for his son’s actions during a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. The incident, which occurred on Sept. 4, 2024, left four individuals dead, including two students and two educators, and was allegedly carried out by Colt Gray, the father’s 14-year-old son, using an AR-15-style rifle stored at their residence.
Gray’s conviction encompassed second-degree murder and cruelty to children charges. This marks the first time a parent has been held legally accountable for their child’s school shooting, according to Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith. The case echoes the 2021 Oxford High School tragedy, where James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for their son Ethan Crumbley’s actions.
“We hope that this conviction moves the needle a little further,” Smith remarked to reporters. “The mother reviewed what happened in Michigan and requested her husband to remove the weapons, which could have prevented this tragedy. How many lives has this changed? We aim to push the needle further,” he added.
The jury reached its decision after less than two hours of deliberation. Gray appeared emotionless as the verdicts were announced, later being handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, with Judge Nicholas Primm noting the need to notify multiple parties before proceedings.
Colin Gray, who testified on his own behalf, described his son’s experiences of bullying at school and occasional outbursts of anger. Yet, he maintained that Colt never posed a threat of violence. “I never imagined he would even think about bringing a gun to school or harming anyone,” the father stated to jurors.
Colt Gray remains in custody, with no trial date established for him. Prosecutors argued that Gray failed to address warning signs of his son’s potential for violence, allowing access to the high-capacity weapon used in the attack. Jurors were presented with images of Colt’s bedroom, which featured a photograph of Nikolas Cruz, the Florida school shooter responsible for 14 student and three staff fatalities in 2018.
The victims of the Georgia shooting were Mason Schermerhorn, 14; Christian Angulo, 14; Richard Aspinwall, 39; and Cristina Irimie, 53. Colt Gray is accused of using the firearm his father should have secured to carry out the attack. Senior Breaking News Reporter Dan Gallo and national correspondent Aaron Gilchrist provided coverage from Atlanta.
