Father Bought AR-15 Rifle as Holiday Gift for Son in Apalachee High School Shooting

A 14-year-old student accused of killing four people at Apalachee High School in Winder used an AR-style rifle given to him as a Christmas present by his father. The suspect, Colt Gray, allegedly opened fire on Wednesday, killing two students and two teachers, while injuring nine others.

The Details: According to law enforcement sources, the rifle used in the attack was purchased by Colt’s father, Colin Gray, as a holiday gift in December 2023. The weapon, an AR-15-style rifle, was bought from a local gun store, just a few months after an investigation into online threats made by Colt had been closed. During that investigation, Colin Gray was interviewed by the FBI about his son’s access to guns.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office had previously looked into threats against the school but concluded the case without action, citing a lack of evidence. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with police questioning how access to the weapon may have contributed to the tragedy.

Father’s Role: Colin Gray provided investigators with a timeline of events, confirming that the rifle had been given to his son as a gift in December. While no additional information about the father’s role has been made public, his decision to give the weapon as a gift has drawn criticism in light of the earlier investigation into his son’s threats.

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In Context: The Apalachee High School shooting marks the deadliest school attack in the U.S. this year. It is the 45th school shooting nationwide in 2024, adding to the growing number of such incidents across the country.

What’s Next?: As investigators continue to piece together the events that led up to the shooting, questions remain about the impact of parental decisions regarding firearms and the effectiveness of previous investigations into threats. Local and national officials are calling for stronger measures to prevent access to dangerous weapons by young people.