The father of Colt Gray, the accused shooter at a High School in Winder, Georgia, is facing trial for his alleged role in the shooting that left four people dead. Colin Gray pleaded not guilty to 29 charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the mass shooting at Apalachee High School on September 4, 2024.
Mass Shooting
Gray’s son, then 14 years old, was charged as an adult with 55 counts, including murder, in the deaths of four people and dozens of aggravated assaults, and cruelty to children. During the mass shooting, the four killed include teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irmie, and two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Several other teachers and students were wounded in the incident.
Colin Gray gifted his son the assault-style weapon as a Christmas gift, which he then used to commit mass murder. Colin was aware of his son’s mental health at the time and that it had deteriorated in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Prosecutors allege he was also aware that his son had an unhealthy obsession with school shooters and went as far as to put a shrine above his computer for the shooter in the 2018 Parkland School shooting.
Trial Begins
The trial is being held in Barrow County, but the jury was selected from Hall County to offer a fair and impartial group. It began on Monday, February 16, and on the fourth day, the jury heard testimony from the prosecution about the years of warning signs, issues with school disciplinary, multiple child welfare checks, and a prior online threat. The prosecution argues that Gray’s actions led to the shooting, and he is more responsible than previously assumed.
According to prosecutors, the recklessness of Gray in allowing his son to have access to a firearm led to the horrific shooting. Gwinnett County Deputy Anthony Townsend testified today to the moment he spoke with Gray after he was sent to his home following the shooting. Prosecutors played body camera footage for the jury as Townsend explained the situation.
Townsend said Colin Gray came to the door when deputies knocked and stepped outside. He appeared to already know something had happened, and he was “hoping to God that his son didn’t do anything.” The footage shows Gray discussing efforts to get his son counseling. “We’re trying to get him into counseling… I filled out some paperwork the other day for a third-party counselor to get involved,” Gray said.
Barrow County Schools’ director of data and accountability, Jennie Persinger, walked jurors through Colt Gray’s school records and enrollment history. Records did not show that Colt was homeschooled or enrolled in online school during certain time periods.
Emails were presented in court to show the communication gaps between the school and the Gray family. There was a five-day delay between Colin Gray alerting the district that they had moved, and that is why his son was absent. Defense attorneys questioned Persinger on the school’s timing of communications and how the documents were prepared.
Trial About Accountability
This case focuses on early disciplinary problems and the welfare investigation into the Discord threat and counseling efforts made by the parents to get their son help. Today’s testimony showed the years-long timeline that investigators pieced together, which prosecutors argue should have been a sign.
However, defense attorneys fight back against the allegations and highlight that investigators failed to properly confirm certain things, such as the Discord threat. They allege they were unable to verify, and there were limits in what law enforcement knew at the time of the shooting.
The trial is expected to resume tomorrow at 9 a.m. after concluding day four on Thursday afternoon.
