Father and Son Indicted on Murder Charges in Deadly Georgia High School Shooting

A tragic school shooting has led to unprecedented charges for both a 14-year-old student and his father.

At a glance:

  • A Georgia grand jury indicted 14-year-old Colt Gray on 55 counts, including murder and aggravated assault, for the deadly September shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
  • Colt’s father, Colin Gray, faces 29 counts, including involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder, for allowing his son access to the AR-15-style weapon used in the attack.
  • Four people—two students and two teachers—were killed, and nine others were injured in what is now the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history.

Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student, and his father, Colin Gray, have both been indicted by a Georgia grand jury in connection with the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in September. Colt is facing 55 counts, including multiple murder charges, for the shooting spree that left two students and two teachers dead, and nine others injured. His father, Colin, has been charged with 29 counts, including involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder, for allegedly allowing Colt to access the weapon used in the attack.

The shooting shocked the community of Winder, Georgia, as it became the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history. District Attorney Brad Smith emphasized the far-reaching impact of the tragedy, noting that “every person, every kid in that school was a victim,” as the school and nearby campuses were locked down during the attack.

The FBI revealed that Colt Gray had been interviewed by authorities the previous year after receiving tips about threats he made online. However, they found no probable cause for an arrest at that time. The case against Colin Gray marks a continuation of a growing trend where parents are being held accountable for the actions of their children, similar to the case of Ethan Crumbley’s parents in Michigan, who were charged after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting.

Both father and son are scheduled for arraignment on November 21.