The father of a teenager responsible for yesterday’s school shooting at Apalachee High School has been arrested. Colin Gray is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, murder and cruelty to children, following the death of four victims in the tragedy.
WINDER, GA (2-minute read) — The father of the Apalachee High School shooter has been arrested on multiple charges following the tragic event that took place on Wednesday. His 14-year-old son is accused of opening fire at the school, killing four individuals—two students and two teachers—during the morning rampage, and injuring 9 others.
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Colin Gray, 54, is now facing a slew of charges, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced the arrest, indicating that the charges stem from his connection to the AR-style firearm used in the attack.
Authorities are investigating whether Colin Gray purchased the firearm for his son as a gift in December of 2023. While it’s not uncommon for parents to gift firearms to their children, it’s a serious responsibility that must be handled with utmost care. Improper handling, especially in cases involving minors, can lead to catastrophic consequences like those seen in this case.
It was also recently revealed that the FBI had contact with the family last year, after following up on an anonymous tip about threats of a school shooting, of which the suspect denied.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details will likely emerge regarding the family’s background, the son’s motivations, and any potential lapses in safety protocols that could have averted this tragedy.
Safety Tip: Always store firearms in a locked, secure location, out of reach and sight of children. If you decide to gift a firearm to a minor, ensure they receive proper training, understand firearm safety protocols, and that the firearm is stored in a way that prevents unsupervised access.
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When this first happened, I looked up Georgia gun laws for minors and found that a parent/guardian could be charged under specific circumstances. Glad they followed through, it’s as if this law was written exactly for this situation.
But, just like the Buffalo grocery store shooter, it looks like once again, the parent(s) knew their kid had mental health gun related issues and bought them a firearm anyway within a year of first being contacted by law enforcement. Those parents were charged as well. This is a good thing.