Shooting at Apalachee High: Student arrested, father charged

On Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, a tragic event occurred, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. The perpetrator of the horrifying shooting turned out to be 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the same school. In connection with the tragedy, the teenager's father, Colin Gray, was arrested.

On Wednesday, a tragic shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, in the USA. As a result of the attack, two students and two teachers died: Mason Schermerhorn, Christian Angulo, Richard Aspenwall, and Christin Irimie, and nine other individuals were injured.

As confirmed at a news conference by the head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Chris Hosey, the one responsible for the horrific act is 14-year-old Colt Gray, a student at the same school. The teenager was apprehended at the scene. His motive remains unknown.

The day after the tragedy, the teenager's father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, was also arrested. He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children. How is this possible?

As Hosey explained, the charges against the father stem from the fact that he knowingly allowed his son to possess a firearm. According to investigators, Colin Gray purchased the firearm used by Colt in the shooting as a Christmas gift in December 2023. This information was cited by law enforcement officers, as reported by CNN.

Despite the tragic fatalities, the nine injured individuals – both students and teachers – have a chance for full recovery. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith reported that some of the injured are still in the hospital, while others have already been discharged.

Reports indicate that the alleged teenage assailant had previously been questioned by law enforcement. The FBI confirmed that a year earlier, they had conducted an investigation into online threats in which the suspect posted photos of firearms. Investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office then located the suspect and conducted interviews with both him and his father, who assured them that his son "did not have access to firearms without supervision."

During a Thursday news conference, it was revealed that Colin Gray admitted during earlier interrogations to having firearms in the house that were accessible to his son.

They are not loaded, but they are within reach, Colin Gray reportedly told investigators, adding that his family often hunts, and his son recently hunted his first deer.

The father also added that, according to his son, the account from which the threats were sent had been hacked.

I would be furious if it turned out that it was him sending those threats, Colin reportedly told investigators, assuring that in such a case, "all firearms would be taken away."

Despite previous concerns and interrogations, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at that time decided not to press charges, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

We did not fail in this matter, Sheriff Janis Mangum said to the Associated Press, referring to the investigation conducted a year earlier.

Colin Gray's arrest is the second case in history when a school shooter's parent was held criminally responsible through facilitation of the crime.

Previously, similar charges were brought against James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, the perpetrator of the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan. Prosecutors then accused the parents of purchasing the firearm used by their son in the attack as a Christmas present. Both parents were sentenced to at least ten years in prison.