Georgia father Colin Gray found guilty in son’s alleged deadly school shooting
On Tuesday, a Georgia jury made a significant decision by convicting Colin Gray, 55, in the aftermath of a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. The father was held criminally liable for his son Colt Gray’s actions, which involved using an AR-15-style rifle from their home to fatally shoot two students and two teachers on September 4, 2024. This verdict marks a unique case where a parent faces legal consequences for their child’s violent act.
Case Precedent and Parental Accountability
Colin Gray’s conviction includes charges of second-degree murder and cruelty to children. Prosecutors argued that he failed to address his son’s behavioral indicators and allowed access to a high-capacity weapon. The trial echoed the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Detroit, where James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for their son Ethan’s actions. Colt’s mother previously referenced this case when advocating for restricted gun access for her son, according to Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith.
“Smith emphasized that the conviction could serve as a catalyst for change. He noted that the mother had studied the Michigan case and requested her husband to remove the firearms. This step might have prevented the tragedy, and now we hope to push the needle further,” Smith stated.
The jury deliberated for under two hours before returning a guilty verdict on all 27 counts. Colin Gray displayed little emotion as the verdicts were announced, later being handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom. Judge Nicholas Primm postponed sentencing to notify parties and allow for further proceedings. The maximum sentence for Gray could reach 243 years in prison.
Defense attorneys left the courthouse without commenting on the case, while Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time, remains in custody with no trial date scheduled. Jurors were shown images of Colt’s bedroom, which featured a photo of Nikolas Cruz, the Florida shooter who killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. The four victims in Georgia were Mason Schermerhorn, 14; Christian Angulo, 14; Richard Aspinwall, 39; and Cristina Irimie, 53.
Colin Gray testified on his own behalf, describing his son’s experiences of bullying and occasional outbursts of anger. However, he insisted that he never viewed Colt as a threat to others. “I never imagined he would consider harming anyone at school,” the father explained to jurors.
Senior Breaking News Reporter Dan Gallo is an NBC News field producer based in Atlanta. Aaron Gilchrist serves as a national correspondent for NBC News.
