ATLANTA (AP) — Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the trial of Colin Gray, whose teenage son, Colt Gray, is accused of killing two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, in September 2024.
Colin faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder. He is among a few parents in the U.S. charged with crimes after their children commit acts of violence. The indictment alleges he committed cruelty to children by giving Colt access to a gun and ammunition despite knowing of the potential danger.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, with several others injured. Investigators testified that Colt meticulously planned the assault, even documenting his intentions in a notebook.
Colin Gray reportedly bought his son an assault-style rifle as a gift and supplied him with larger ammunition magazines at Colt's request. Despite knowing of his son’s obsessions with school shootings and his declining mental health, Colin maintained a belief that the situation was not serious enough to warrant intervention.
The trial will take place in Barrow County, though jury selection occurs in nearby Gainesville to mitigate potential bias. This case is part of a national discourse on parental accountability in cases of youth violence. High-profile examples include the Crumbley parents after the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan.
Colt Gray, indicted on 55 counts including murder, has pleaded not guilty, but indications suggest he may change his plea after psychological evaluations. The case highlights profound questions about responsibility, mental health, and the accessibility of firearms, bringing to the forefront the societal impact of gun violence and the complexities of parenting in a violent era.
Colin faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder. He is among a few parents in the U.S. charged with crimes after their children commit acts of violence. The indictment alleges he committed cruelty to children by giving Colt access to a gun and ammunition despite knowing of the potential danger.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, along with students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, with several others injured. Investigators testified that Colt meticulously planned the assault, even documenting his intentions in a notebook.
Colin Gray reportedly bought his son an assault-style rifle as a gift and supplied him with larger ammunition magazines at Colt's request. Despite knowing of his son’s obsessions with school shootings and his declining mental health, Colin maintained a belief that the situation was not serious enough to warrant intervention.
The trial will take place in Barrow County, though jury selection occurs in nearby Gainesville to mitigate potential bias. This case is part of a national discourse on parental accountability in cases of youth violence. High-profile examples include the Crumbley parents after the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan.
Colt Gray, indicted on 55 counts including murder, has pleaded not guilty, but indications suggest he may change his plea after psychological evaluations. The case highlights profound questions about responsibility, mental health, and the accessibility of firearms, bringing to the forefront the societal impact of gun violence and the complexities of parenting in a violent era.
