The father of a 14-year-old involved in a school shooting at Apalachee High School has been arrested. Colin Gray, 54, is facing serious charges related to the shooting that killed four people, as stated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Colt Gray, son of Colin Gray, is accused of killing two students and two teachers during the incident, using an AR-style rifle. The shooting also left seven people injured: six students and one teacher were shot, and two other students suffered non-gunshot-related injuries.
Colt Gray is facing four felony murder charges, according to official documents. Authorities plan to try him as an adult, said the GBI and Barrow County Sheriff.
The charges against Colin Gray come from the fact that he “knowingly allowed” his son to access the weapon, explained GBI Director Chris Hosey during a press conference. Authorities are still determining if the father or son has legal representation.
According to two law enforcement sources, Colin Gray admitted to investigators that he had bought the AR-15-style rifle as a gift for his son in December 2023. One source told CNN the gun was purchased at a local store as a Christmas gift, even though police had previously investigated the family after online threats were made about a potential school shooting. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office eventually closed the investigation, citing a lack of evidence to support the claims.
The shooting occurred just weeks into the new school year, marking the 45th school shooting of 2024. It is also the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a March 2023 attack in Nashville, where six people died.
Authorities say all nine of the survivors are expected to make full recoveries. Investigators are now working to uncover more details about what led to the tragic event.
The shooting began around 9:45 a.m. Colt Gray left his Algebra class and later tried to re-enter, according to his classmate, 14-year-old Lyela Sayarath. She explained that the classroom doors lock automatically, and when Colt knocked to be let in, another student approached the door but saw that he had a gun. The student did not open the door, possibly saving many lives.
Read More: Four Killed in Georgia High School Shooting, Several Injured
Instead, Colt Gray moved to a nearby classroom and started shooting, firing 10 to 15 rounds, Lyela recalled.
At 10:20 a.m., the first reports of an active shooter reached law enforcement. Two school resource officers and other police officers quickly arrived at the scene, GBI Director Hosey said.
Law enforcement confronted the shooter, and Colt Gray surrendered without further violence, said Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
Colt Gray is currently being held at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Centers. His first court appearance is set for Friday, according to Glenn Allen, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.
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