The murder trial continues for Colin Gray, a Georgia man accused of gifting his son a firearm used during the 2024 Apalachee High School massacre in Winder.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Gray is facing 29 charges, including, in part, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children. He has pleaded not guilty.
The defendant’s charges stem from allegedly buying an assault-style rifle and ammunition for his son, Colt Gray, in December 2023.
On Monday, prosecutor Brad Smith told a Barrow County jury that Colt Gray, 14 at the time, entered Apalachee High School on September 4, 2024, “with a rifle inside his bag,” NBC News reports.
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.
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[Feature Photo: Colt Gray and Colin Gray/Bartow County Sheriff’s Office]
