A grand jury in Barrow County has indicted 14-year-old Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, on multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The shooting, which occurred on September 4th, resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two students.
Colt Gray faces 55 counts, including murder and 25 counts of aggravated assault for firing on students and staff. His father, Colin Gray, has been charged with 29 counts, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The charges against the father stem from allegations that he provided Colt with access to firearms despite warnings about his son’s behavior.
The duo is scheduled to appear in court on November 21st for arraignment, where they will formally enter their pleas. Colt, charged as an adult, is being held in a juvenile detention facility, while Colin is in the Barrow County jail. Neither has sought bail.
The shooting claimed the lives of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. An additional teacher and eight additional students were injured during the incident, seven of them by gunfire.
Prosecutors charged Colin Gray with cruelty to children for allowing his son access to the weapon, despite knowing about his son’s fascination with school shooters. Colt had previously been involved in a concerning online threat and showed signs of mental distress, including severe anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts. Days before the shooting, the family had planned to seek treatment for Colt, but the plan fell through.
The case follows a national trend of holding parents accountable for their children’s access to firearms, with legal experts watching closely as this case unfolds.