Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, the 14-year-old accused in the deadly Georgia school shooting, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, according to The New York Times. The shooting, which occurred at Apalachee High School, claimed the lives of two students and two teachers and left nine others injured.
Colt Gray was taken into custody shortly after the attack and is facing four counts of felony murder. Now, his father, Colin Gray, has also been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced.
GBI Director Chris Hosey explained during a news conference on Thursday that the charges against Colin Gray stem from his “knowingly allowing” his son to possess the weapon used in the shooting. “These charges are directly connected to the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon,” Hosey stated. He declined to elaborate on the specific evidence that led to the father’s arrest.
When asked if additional charges might be brought, Hosey responded, “Our investigation is still ongoing, so we’ll see where things go.”
This marks the second time in recent history that the parents of a school shooter have faced criminal charges. Earlier this year, Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for leaving an unsecured gun in their home and showing indifference to their son’s mental health struggles. They were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Their son, Ethan, killed four people at Oxford High School in November 2021 with a gun purchased by his father just days before the attack.
School officials had warned the Crumbleys about their son’s disturbing behavior, including a drawing he made of a gun and a wounded man with the words, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. My life is useless.” Prosecutors may look to the Crumbley case as a precedent when pursuing charges against Colin Gray.
Authorities confirmed that Colt Gray will be tried as an adult for the shooting and remains in custody at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center. CNN reports that Colin Gray told investigators he purchased the gun used in the shooting as a holiday gift for his son. Audio recordings from a previous sheriff’s investigation last year reveal that Colt Gray had been questioned about threats of a school shooting, though he denied making them, and law enforcement could not substantiate the claims at the time.