Father of Georgia high school shooting suspect convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter

The father of a Georgia high school shooting suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday.

Colin Gray, the father of accused Apalachee High School mass shooter Colt Gray, has been found guilty by a jury in Barrow County.

Colt Gray allegedly killed two 14-year-old students and two teachers during the September 2024 shooting in Winder. 

The father was found guilty on all counts and is facing up to 180 years in prison. He will be sentenced at a later date. 

Gray was motionless, looking down and to the side while seated at the defense table as the guilty verdict was read. Minutes later, deputies placed him in handcuffs and led him out of the courtroom.

Under Georgia law, second-degree murder involves causing the death of a child while committing the crime of cruelty to children. Jurors convicted Gray of second-degree murder in the deaths of the two students and involuntary manslaughter in the killings of the two teachers.

In addition, jurors convicted him of multiple counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and reckless conduct. Colin Gray had pleaded not guilty to all counts.

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Prosecutors successfully argued that Gray provided his son with the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack as a Christmas gift, continued buying him ammunition, despite being aware of his mental health deterioration and prior school shooting threats investigated by law enforcement.

The prosecution told jurors that despite those concerns, Gray did not pursue inpatient treatment for his son.

Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was indicted on 55 counts, including murder. He has pleaded not guilty, and a judge has set a status hearing in his case for mid-March.

He is accused of killing two 14-year-old students — Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo — and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. He will be sentenced at a later date.

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Investigators said Colt Gray brought a semiautomatic rifle to school in his backpack, left class and opened fire in a classroom and hallways. Two school resource officers took him into custody, authorities said.

The case is among a growing number nationwide in which prosecutors are seeking to hold parents criminally responsible in deadly school shootings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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