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The trial of Colin Gray, a Georgia resident entangled in a heartbreaking case, presses on as he faces charges related to the tragic 2024 Apalachee High School shooting in Winder. Gray is accused of providing a weapon to his son, which was then used in the massacre.
Colin Gray is currently confronting 29 serious charges, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children. He has entered a plea of not guilty, as reported by CrimeOnline. The allegations against him involve purchasing an assault-style rifle and ammunition for his son, Colt Gray, in December 2023.
On Monday, during proceedings in Barrow County, prosecutor Brad Smith recounted to the jury the events of September 4, 2024. That day, Colt Gray, who was just 14 years old at the time, allegedly brought a rifle concealed in his bag into Apalachee High School, according to NBC News.
In a tragic twist before the shooting, Colt’s mother reached out to the school authorities regarding alarming text messages she had received from her son earlier that day. However, prosecutor Smith did not disclose the specifics of those messages.
Before the shooting, the teen’s mother contacted the school, regarding her son’s text messages that he sent her before he left for school. Smith did not reveal what the text messages said.
The mother also warned that Colt had access to a firearm.
Colt Gray later hid in a school bathroom before emerging in yellow work clothes. He then began firing, allegedly killing two students and two teachers at the school.
The victims have been identified as:
- Cristina Irimie, 53
- Richard Aspinwall, 39
- Mason Schermerhorn, 14
- Christian Angulo, 14
Numerous other students were wounded during the incident.
“This is not a case about holding parents accountable for what their children do, that’s not what this case is about,” Smith said Monday.
“This case is about this defendant and his actions. His actions in allowing a child that he has custody over access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that that child was going to harm others.”
Investigators later found evidence of Colt’s alleged interest in mass shootings. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) found Colin Gray’s notebook, which purportedly had “step by step plans” about a school shooting.
The prosecution argued said Colin Grey had sufficient warning that his son had the potential for violence, including Colin’s alleged fascination with the 2018 Parkland High School shooting in Florida.
Authorities interviewed both Colin and Colt Gray a year prior, after the teen threatened a school shooting. Colt denied the accusations and no charges were filed after investigators failed to prove alleged online comments.
Colin Gray reportedly said he had been teaching his son how to hunt and how to use a firearm safely. He reportedly added that if his son had threatened a school shooting, he “would be mad as hell and then all the guns will go away.”
Following the interview, Colin Gray allegedly bought his son the firearm used in the school massacre.
Defense attorney Brian Hobbs told the court that Colin Gray pushed for answers after his son had been accused of threatening the school, but reportedly never received confirmation.
Colin Gray also tried to get his son mental healthcare through the high school, Hobbs said.
“The evidence will show a teenager who is struggling mentally. A teenager who is deceptive,” Hobbs said.
“A teenager who hid his true intentions from everyone — from his family, from his counselor, from his siblings, from DFCS [Georgia Division of Family & Children Services], from law enforcement and most especially from his father.”
Earlier this week, witnesses, including student survivors, teachers, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent, and an assistant principal.
Colin Gray has pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, a status hearing for Colin Gray has been scheduled for March. He’s facing 55 felonies, including including four counts of malice murder.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Colt Gray and Colin Gray/Bartow County Sheriff’s Office]