Georgia Father Convicted in Apalachee High School Shooting

A Georgia court convicted Colin Gray, 55, the father of the teenager accused in the September 4, 2024, shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on March 3, 2026. The shooting resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers, and left seven others injured.

Details of the Conviction

The jury found Gray guilty on 29 counts, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children, after less than two hours of deliberation. Second-degree murder in Georgia carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray acted with criminal recklessness by providing his 14-year-aged son, Colt Gray, with the SIG Sauer M400 semi-automatic rifle used in the attack. They emphasized that Gray should have recognized the danger his son posed, citing a May 2023 incident where law enforcement visited the family home following an FBI alert regarding threatening messages sent from the family’s internet address.

Defense Argument

Colin Gray testified that he was unaware of his son’s intentions and had no knowledge that he would carry out such an attack. He stated, “I struggle with this every day.”

Background of the Shooting

The shooting occurred on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School, located near Winder, Georgia, approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Atlanta. Colt Gray, then 14 years old, allegedly shot eleven people, resulting in the deaths of two students – Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 – and two teachers.

Broader Context of Parental Responsibility

This case follows a similar conviction in Michigan in April 2024, where the parents of a teenager who killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021 were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. These rulings signal a growing trend of holding parents criminally responsible for their children’s actions in school shootings, particularly when there is evidence of negligence or enabling behavior.

Colt Gray, now 16, is also facing 55 felony counts, including murder, and will be tried as an adult. A trial date has not yet been set.