Georgia Father Found Guilty in Son’s School Shooting
WINDER, Ga. (AP) — Colin Gray, the father of the teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The verdict marks a rare instance of a parent being held criminally responsible for their child’s actions in a school shooting.
The Verdict and Charges
Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before finding Colin Gray guilty of all charges related to the September 4, 2024, shooting at Apalachee High School, located northeast of Atlanta. Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child through an act of cruelty towards children. He was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.
In addition to the homicide charges, Gray was convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children. He faces up to 180 years in prison, with second-degree murder carrying a sentence of at least 10, but no more than 30 years, and involuntary manslaughter carrying a penalty of one to 10 years. Sentencing has been deferred to a later date.
The Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutors argued that Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift and allowed him access to ammunition despite being aware of the teen’s deteriorating mental health. They asserted that Gray had “sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger” others. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith emphasized that the prosecution focused on the father’s independent choices and responsibilities, not the son’s alleged crimes. NBC New York reported Smith stating, “I would have never given my 14-year-old child a firearm like that… I consider most parents wouldn’t have done that.”
Mother’s Testimony and Prior Cases
Colt Gray’s mother, Marcee Gray, testified that she had urged her estranged husband to secure any firearms in his truck to prevent access by their son. The couple was separated prior to the shooting, and Colt Gray primarily resided with his father. The Associated Press noted that Marcee Gray had been influenced by the case of Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents convicted in connection with the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Michigan. She asked her husband to remove the weapons after learning about the Crumbley case.
The Crumbleys were both found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after their son, Ethan Crumbley, killed four students and wounded others. Fox 5 NY reported that Smith stated, “Michigan was able to move the needle to the point that it almost stopped this tragedy.”
The Shooting and Investigation
Investigators stated that 14-year-old Colt Gray carefully planned the shooting, which occurred on September 4, 2024, at the school with approximately 1,900 students. He brought a semiautomatic, assault-style rifle to school in his book bag, with the barrel visible and wrapped in poster board. He then emerged from a bathroom and opened fire in a classroom and hallways, injuring nine others in addition to the four fatalities.
Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty to 55 counts, including murder, and a status hearing is scheduled for mid-March.
Legislative Response
In response to the shooting, Georgia lawmakers passed a school safety bill last year. The bill establishes an alert system including the names of students who have threatened violence, requires law enforcement notification when a child threatens violence at school, implements mobile panic alert buttons, streamlines student record transfers, and provides for mental health coordinators in each of the state’s 180 school districts. Governor Brian Kemp also secured an additional $50 million for school safety initiatives.