Father of Georgia high school shooting suspect arrested and charged

The father of the teen suspected of killing four people in a Georgia school shooting has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Thursday.

The father of Colt Gray, the suspect in Wednesday’s Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, was arrested with multiple charges, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Colin Gray, 54, is charged with eight counts of cruelty to children, two counts of second-degree murder and four counts of involuntary manslaughter. 

Chris Hosey, the director of GBI, said Thursday that Colt’s father’s charges came from him “knowingly allowing his son to possess” a weapon. 

Fourteen-year-old Colt Gray was charged Thursday with four felony counts of murder, one for each death in the Wednesday shooting. Gray allegedly fatally shot two students and two teachers, while injuring nine more people. Colt Gray was brought to the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center. The suspect’s first appearance before a judge is slated for 8:30 a.m. EDT Friday. 

The Peach State does not permit minors to have guns. Federal and state law would also bar the teen from purchasing them. 

The FBI said Thursday the now-suspect was interviewed in 2023 regarding prior threats he made online, including photos of guns. The bureau said it referred the information to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. 

Colt Gray used a semiautomatic assault-style rifle during the shooting, according to arrest warrants that were obtained by The Associated Press. The 14-year-old denied that he threatened to commit a school shooting when he was interviewed last year by authorities due to his threatening post on social media, per a sheriff’s report the AP obtained.