By The father of the suspect in the deadly Apalachee High School shooting has been arrested after authorities discovered he gave his 14-year-old son the AR-15 used in the massacre as a Christmas gift. This development comes just seven months after the teen was investigated for making mass shooting threats.
Colin Gray, father of alleged shooter Colt Gray, was taken into custody Thursday in connection with Wednesday’s shooting that left two students and two teachers dead at the Georgia high school. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has charged the elder Gray with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
According to multiple reports, Colin Gray told investigators he purchased the AR-15-style rifle used in the school shooting as a Christmas present for his son in December 2023. This revelation has raised serious questions about gun access and parental responsibility, especially in light of previous concerns about the teenager’s behavior.
The timeline of events has come under scrutiny, as the gun purchase occurred approximately seven months after the FBI investigated threats allegedly made by then 13-year-old Colt via the social media platform Discord. The FBI reported that these threats involved a potential school shooting and included pictures of firearms, though they lacked specifics about timing or location.
Federal authorities said they referred the threats to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, leading to deputies visiting the Gray household to interview both father and son. During this visit, Colt denied making the threats, while Colin assured deputies that his son did not have “unsupervised access” to the guns in their home.
Law enforcement ultimately decided there was insufficient probable cause for an arrest or further action, closing the investigation. However, the decision by Colin Gray to purchase a firearm for his son just months after this incident has raised serious concerns about judgment and responsibility.
The Apalachee High School shooting has now become the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history, prompting renewed debates about gun control, mental health support for teenagers, and the role of parents in preventing such tragedies.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, investigators continue to piece together the circumstances that led to the shooting. The arrest of Colin Gray adds another layer of complexity to an already tragic situation, highlighting the potential consequences of providing firearms to minors, especially those with a history of concerning behavior.
