Georgia authorities arrested Colin Gray, 54, on Thursday for his alleged role in a school shooting that took place on Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder. The shooting resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to nine others. Gray faces charges including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, stated at a press conference, “These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son Colt to possess a weapon.”
Colt Gray, 14, is charged with four counts of felony murder and will be tried as an adult. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday morning via video conference before a Georgia Superior Court judge in Barrow County.
Investigators reported that Colt Gray used a semiautomatic rifle, described as an “AR platform style weapon,” in the attack. The exact details of how the weapon was obtained remain unclear.
The tragic event, which is the first major school shooting of the academic year, has reignited national discussions on gun control and the frequent occurrences of such violence in the U.S.
The victims have been identified as two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. In addition to those killed, two teachers and seven students sustained injuries. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith confirmed that all nine injured individuals are expected to recover fully.
The case reflects a broader effort in the U.S. to hold parents accountable for school shootings involving their children. In a notable prior case, the parents of a Michigan teen were sentenced to prison for manslaughter in a similar situation, marking a significant step in increasing parental responsibility for gun safety.
In a related incident earlier this year, Colin and Colt Gray were questioned by officials about online threats related to a potential school shooting. Despite their claims of having locked hunting guns and not being linked to the threats, Jackson County investigators closed the case due to insufficient evidence.
Studies by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reveal that around 75% of school shooters obtain their weapons from home, underscoring the importance of securing firearms.
David Riedman, who manages the K-12 School Shooting Database, noted that this incident marks the first planned school attack of the fall season. The United States continues to grapple with the impact of school shootings, which fuel ongoing debates about gun laws and Second Amendment rights.