Georgia state officials have arrested Colin Gray, 54, the father of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who is suspected of carrying out the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced the arrest on Thursday in connection with the incident that left four people dead and nine wounded.
The GBI stated on social media platform X that Colin Gray has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. The arrest was made in coordination with District Attorney Brad Smith.
This development comes after both father and son were questioned by local officials in neighboring Jackson County last year regarding an online threat to commit a school shooting. The FBI reported on Wednesday that there was insufficient probable cause for their arrest at that time.
During the 2023 investigation, Colin Gray informed authorities that he owned hunting guns but assured them his son did not have unsupervised access. Colt Gray denied making the online threats. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum explained that the case was closed after investigators were unable to substantiate a connection between the Grays and the Discord account where the threats originated.
The recent shooting at Apalachee High School resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two 14-year-old students. State and Barrow County investigators report that Colt Gray used an “AR platform style weapon,” or semiautomatic rifle, to carry out the attack. The method by which the shooter obtained the weapon remains unclear and is a focus of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are also examining potential warning signs that the shooting might occur and the motive behind the attack. This incident marks the first U.S. campus mass shooting since the beginning of the current school year.
Colt Gray was taken into custody shortly after the shooting and is being held without bond at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, according to Glenn Allen, communications director for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Despite his age, he will be charged and tried as an adult, the GBI confirmed.
The younger Gray’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday morning before a Georgia Superior Court judge in Barrow County, to be conducted via video camera.
