Father of Georgia school shooting suspect found guilty of murder and manslaughter | Georgia high school shooting
The father of a teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers in a 2024 mass shooting at a Georgia high school was found guilty Tuesday of second-degree murder and other charges.
After about two weeks of testimony, jurors deliberated for just a few hours before convicting Colin Gray, 54, of more than two dozen counts, including second-degree murder and manslaughter, related to the Sept. 4 fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Gray had been charged with 29 counts, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving. The Associated Press reported that Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing a crime of child cruelty.
He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors accused Gray of “criminal negligence” and argued that he gave his 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, access to a firearm and ammunition after “receiving sufficient warning that Colt Gray would harm and endanger the physical safety of others.”
Colt Gray is accused of fatally shooting two students and two teachers with an assault rifle at Apalachee High School on September 4, 2024. He faces 55 counts, including four counts of intentional murder and four counts of felony murder. Prosecutors are charging him as an adult. He has also pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
The victims of the attack were identified as teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old. Another teacher and eight other students were injured.
The case against Colin Gray comes as several other parents have been charged in connection with school shootings perpetrated by their children in recent years.
In 2024, the parents of a Michigan high school student who fatally shot four students were both convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.
According to the Associated Press, Colin Gray will be sentenced at a later date. The outlet reports that Gray faces up to 30 years in prison.
Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that Gray’s lawyers would likely appeal.
