The father of the 14-year-old suspect in the deadly Apalachee High School shooting has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and murder. Colin Gray, whose son is accused of killing four people in a mass shooting last week, now faces serious charges, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
The Details: According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Colin Gray was taken into custody following the shooting, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers. The charges stem from his role in providing his son with the weapon used in the attack—an AR-15-style rifle that he gave as a holiday gift in December 2023. Investigators allege that by giving his son access to the weapon, Colin Gray directly contributed to the events that unfolded last Wednesday at Apalachee High School.
In addition to manslaughter and murder charges, Gray is also facing eight counts of cruelty to children, likely related to the emotional trauma suffered by the surviving students who witnessed the attack.
Background: On the day of the shooting, Colt Gray, a student at the school, allegedly opened fire, killing four people and injuring nine others. The gun used in the shooting was traced back to his father, who had purchased it from a local gun store and given it to his son as a Christmas present.
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This is not the first time authorities had looked into the Gray family. Prior to the shooting, law enforcement had investigated threats Colt made against the school online. However, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office closed the case after determining the threat was not credible.
In Context: The decision to charge Colin Gray comes amid growing public scrutiny of parents’ responsibility in cases of school shootings, particularly when weapons are involved. With school shootings on the rise, this case has reignited debates about firearm access and the role of parents in securing deadly weapons from their children. It also highlights the limits of previous investigations, as officials had closed their inquiry into the suspect’s threats months before the shooting occurred.
What’s Next?: As Colin Gray awaits trial, legal experts expect the case to focus heavily on the father’s decision to provide his son with an AR-15-style rifle despite earlier concerns over threats made against the school.
Meanwhile, the community of Winder continues to mourn the loss of the four victims as investigators search for more answers.
