By New details have emerged about the background of 14-year-old Colt Gray, the suspect in Wednesday’s deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The teen’s father, Colin Gray, 54, told detectives last year that his son had been bullied at school, with classmates taunting him about his sexuality.
In an interview with the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, obtained by DailyMail.com, Colin Gray described his son’s difficult school experiences. “It was very difficult for him to go to school and not get picked on,” the elder Gray stated. He added that attempts to involve his son in school activities were met with ridicule: “I was trying to get him on the golf team… [they were like], ‘Oh, look, Colt’s gay. He’s dating that guy.’ Just ridiculed him day after day after day.”
The interview took place after the FBI received a tip about a potential threat made by Colt Gray on Discord, a social media platform popular among gamers. The post, which referenced the Sandy Hook shooting and expressed frustration with transgender acceptance, read in part: “im committing a mass shooting and im waiting a good 2-3 years… I cant kill myself yet, cause I’m not contributing anything to culture I need to go out knowing I did.”
Colt Gray, now charged as an adult, faces multiple counts of murder for the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and two adults, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Nine others were injured in the attack.
Both father and son appeared in separate court hearings on Friday. Colin Gray is also charged in connection with the shooting, facing counts of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder. Authorities say he purchased the weapon used in the killings as a Christmas present for his son last December.
During the May 2023 interview, Colin Gray described recent family upheavals, including his separation from Colt’s mother. He expressed concerns about his son’s ability to handle pressure and mentioned efforts to interest him in outdoor activities as an alternative to video games.
The father claimed to have had discussions with Colt about school shootings, stating, “He knows the seriousness of weapons and what they can do, and how to use them and not use them.”
Despite the previous investigation, Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum defended her department’s actions, saying, “We did not drop the ball at all on this. We did all we could do with what we had at the time.” The case was closed after investigators were unable to substantiate a connection between the Grays and the Discord account in question.
In court on Friday, Colt Gray appeared in shackles, keeping his head down and speaking softly. His father was visibly emotional during his own appearance. Judge Currie Mingledorff clarified to the young defendant that the potential penalties did not include death, citing a 2005 Supreme Court decision prohibiting the execution of offenders under 18 at the time of their crimes.
As the community of Winder grapples with this tragedy, questions continue to arise about school safety, bullying, and the accessibility of firearms to young individuals. The case highlights the complex interplay of social issues, mental health concerns, and gun violence that continues to challenge American society.
Source: Daily MailOnline
