Colin Gray, the father of the alleged Apalachee High School shooter, Colt Gray, has been convicted of second-degree murder for providing the weapon his son used in the attack.
The Georgia jury, sitting in Barrow County, found Colin guilty of second-degree murder for the deaths of two students, involuntary manslaughter for the death of two adult teachers, reckless conduct and cruelty to children in connection with the mass shooting perpetrated by his teenage son.
According to prosecutors, on September 4, 2024, 14-year-old shooting suspect Colt Gray killed two students and two teachers and wounded several others. The prosecutors claimed that Colt would not have been able to do this without his father’s involvement. The father gave the rifle as a Christmas gift to his son, did not secure firearms and ammunition in their home, and ignored red flags about his son’s declining mental health.
Why Was Colin Gray Charged with Second-Degree Murder and Not Involuntary Manslaughter?
There is precedent for a parent being held liable for their role in their child’s gun violence. Typically, however, the charge is for involuntary manslaughter, which is a lesser charge than murder in the second degree. For example, in Michigan, James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a school shooting perpetrated by their son, Ethan Crumbley. In this case, the court heard evidence of the parents gifting the gun to their child and ignoring school concerns about their son’s troubling behavior.
Georgia has different rules for second-degree murder, especially if it involves cruelty to children. Georgia’s statute §16-5-1 makes it a second-degree murder charge “when, in the commission of cruelty to children in the second degree, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice.”
In the closing arguments, prosecutors argued that the father shared the responsibility in the mass shooting because he knowingly armed a trouble child and ignored obvious “red flags.”
Why Wasn’t His Mother Charged?
Colt’s mother, Marcee Gray, was not charged in connection with the school shooting. At the time, she and her husband were estranged and she was living apart from Colin and Colt so she did not have control over the home. She testified at trial that she encouraged her husband to lock up the guns and researched online about gun storage laws and how parents of school shooters can be held liable for their children’s gun violence. Prosecutors blamed Colin for ignoring her warnings about their son’s behavior and risk of violence.
What Happened to His Son?
Colt Gray is awaiting trial for murder for his involvement in the Apalachee High School shooting. He pleaded “not guilty.” It is an interesting situation in which the father has been found guilty of his involvement in the shooting but the son is going into court with a “not guilty” plea. Currently there is no trial date set.
What's Next In the Colin Gray Trial?
Following the guilty verdict, Colin Gray will now face sentencing. The families of the victims will have an opportunity to make impact statements. The penalty for second-degree murder in Georgia is “not less than 10 nor more than 30 years.” With this latest case, it seems that courts are holding parents more accountable for their child’s gun violence.
Related Resources
- Is Charging Parents the New Strategy for Combating School Violence? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- How Did the Parents of the Michigan School Shooter End Up Facing Prison Time for Manslaughter? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- Legal Issues With Parents Buying Guns for Their Kids (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
