Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, was found guilty on all charges related to a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting him on Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
Colin Gray was found guilty on all counts related to his son Colt's school shooting at Apalachee High School. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict.
- Colin Gray convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and other charges
- He faces up to 180 years in prison
- Prosecutors argued he provided his son with the gun used in the attack despite warning signs
- Colt Gray's trial for 55 felony counts is pending
The 55-year-old father was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of cruelty to children and reckless conduct. He faces up to 180 years in prison for his role in the September 2024 shooting that killed two students and two teachers.
Prosecutors argued that Gray provided his son with an AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift despite knowing about Colt's mental health issues and previous threats. They claimed he ignored warning signs, including Colt's fascination with past school shootings and violent behavior at home and school.
The defense maintained that Gray did not know his son was planning the attack and had taken steps to get him help. Colin Gray testified that he bought the gun for bonding activities like hunting but acknowledged he could have done more to address Colt's mental health needs.
Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, is facing 55 felony counts, including murder and aggravated assault. His trial date has not yet been scheduled. The case highlights a growing trend of holding parents criminally responsible for deadly school shootings committed by their children.
Outside the courthouse, a memorial for victims Mason Schermerhorn, Christian Angulo, Richard Aspinwall, and Cristina Irimie has been set up with photos, flowers, and candles. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the tragic event.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 8 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.