Colin Gray, the father of the teenager responsible for the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School, has entered a not guilty plea to the 29 charges against him, which include two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. His plea was entered through his attorneys, and he did not personally appear in court for the arraignment.
His son, 14-year-old Colt Gray, who carried out the shooting that resulted in the deaths of four and injuries to nine others at the high school on September 4, has also pleaded not guilty. The incident led to Colt being indicted by a Barrow County grand jury in October on 55 counts as an adult, including murder and 25 counts of aggravated assault, alongside multiple counts of cruelty to children which are also faced by his father.
The allegations against Colin Gray include the illegal purchase of the firearm used in the school shooting, which he reportedly gave to his son as a Christmas gift. This case has highlighted Georgia’s laws, which are among those in 42 states that can hold parents criminally responsible for the actions of their children.
During the shooting at Apalachee High School, two teachers—39-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old Cristina Irimie—and two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were tragically killed. Additionally, another teacher and eight students sustained injuries, with seven of them hit by gunfire.
The community continues to mourn the devastating impact of this event, and the legal proceedings involving both Colt and Colin Gray are being closely watched as they unfold. This case adds to the ongoing national conversation about gun ownership responsibilities and the measures needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
