Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, the 14-year-old accused of a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, has been charged in connection with the attack. This incident left two teachers and two students dead,and has sparked a nationwide discussion on parental responsibility in cases of gun violence involving minors. Authorities have charged Colin Gray, 54, with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, as reported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
The charges were announced following the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School on September 4, 2024, where Colt Gray allegedly used an AR-platform style weapon to open fire. The attack resulted in the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. Eight other students and one teacher sustained injuries during the incident. Colt Gray is currently facing four counts of felony murder, with the GBI indicating that additional charges are likely.
GBI Director Chris Hosey explained at a news conference that Colin Gray's charges are directly related to his son's access to the weapon used in the attack. "These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon," Hosey stated. He emphasized the growing trend of holding parents accountable when they fail to secure firearms that their children subsequently use in violent acts. Colin Gray is being held without bond at the Barrow County Detention Center.
This case is part of a broader movement to charge parents whose children commit acts of gun violence. Earlier this year, the parents of a 15-year-old Michigan student who killed four classmates were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Jennifer and James Crumbley were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison after it was revealed they had purchased the gun used in the attack for their son, despite warning signs of his violent intentions. Legal experts suggest that this growing trend could lead to more parents facing legal consequences in similar situations.
Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, highlighted the significance of holding parents accountable in these tragic cases. He stated that the actions of the Grays have devastated the Apalachee High School community. "The case involving the Crumbleys shows that parents can—and should—be held responsible when they disregard public safety," Suplina said. He criticized Colin Gray for giving his son access to a "weapon of war" and ignoring prior warnings.
In the year leading up to the shooting, the FBI received tips about Colt Gray making online threats. Authorities conducted an interview with the teen and his father but determined there was no probable cause to make an arrest at that time. Colin Gray had assured investigators that while he owned hunting guns, they were not accessible to his son. However, this incident has raised questions about whether parents should be more vigilant about securing firearms in their homes, especially when there are warning signs of potential violence.
The Apalachee High School shooting is not an isolated incident. In Highland Park, Illinois, a father pleaded guilty to misdemeanors after his son killed seven people at a Fourth of July parade in 2022. In Virginia, the mother of a 6-year-old boy received a two-year prison sentence for felony child neglect after her son shot his first-grade teacher. These cases illustrate a pattern of legal actions against parents whose children commit violent acts with firearms.
Adam Winkler, a law professor and expert on gun policy, noted that the precedent set by these cases could encourage more prosecutors to pursue charges against parents in similar circumstances. "There were reasons to be concerned about the child's access to firearms," Winkler said, referencing the prior visit by law enforcement to the Gray household.
The impact of these legal decisions extends beyond the courtroom. They are sending a clear message to gun owners about the importance of responsible firearm storage and the potential consequences of negligence. As more cases emerge, the focus on parental accountability in gun violence involving minors is likely to continue to grow, sparking further debate on the responsibilities of gun ownership and public safety.
The Apalachee High School community continues to mourn the loss of its students and teachers, while authorities work to piece together the events that led to this tragedy. The charges against Colin Gray underscore the severity of failing to secure firearms and the potential repercussions that extend beyond the perpetrators themselves. As this case unfolds, it may set a new standard for legal actions against parents in similar cases across the country.
