The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested and charged Colin Gray, 54, with murder. Gray is the father of the teenager suspected of the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. Gray faces multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children, in connection with the incident involving his son Colt, who allegedly used a rifle that Colin gifted him for Christmas.
In coordination with District Attorney Brad Smith, the GBI announced the charges on the social media platform X. The father faces up to 180 years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 4.
The 14-year-old teenager has been identified as the alleged shooter at the school and "will be charged with murder and tried as an adult," said Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, to CNN.
Lyela Sayarath, a junior at Apalachee High School, told CNN that she shared classes with the suspected shooter. He left the classroom at the beginning of their Algebra 1 class and returned near the end, knocking on the door to be let back in. Another student noticed he was carrying a weapon and did not open the door. He then moved to the next classroom and opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle, resulting in the deaths of two teachers and two students.
The victims have been identified as Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, both math teachers, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old. Several others were injured, but Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith stated at a Wednesday night press conference that the hospitalized are expected to "make a full recovery."
The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing. In a joint statement, the Atlanta FBI and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office admitted that the alleged shooter had been questioned by authorities last year in connection with "several anonymous tips about online threats of a school shooting at an unspecified location and time," but they did not have sufficient evidence to detain him at that time.
Key Questions about the Georgia School Shooting Incident
Given the gravity of the incident at Apalachee High School, several questions have arisen regarding the charges, the investigation, and the background of the accused. Here are some frequently asked questions:
What charges is Colin Gray facing?
Colin Gray is facing multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children.
When is Colin Gray's next court appearance?
His next court appearance is scheduled for December 4.
Who were the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting?
The victims were identified as teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.
Was the alleged shooter previously known to authorities?
Yes, the alleged shooter had been questioned by authorities last year regarding anonymous tips about online threats of a school shooting, but there wasn't enough evidence for detention at that time.