Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old accused of killing two teachers and two students at his
Georgia high school, was arrested and charged on Thursday with second-degree murder in
connection with the state’s deadliest school shooting, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)
said.
In addition to two counts of second-degree murder, Mr. Gray, 54, was also charged with four
counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. At a news conference
on Thursday night, Chris Hosey, the G.B.I. director, said the charges were “directly connected
with the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon.” According to law
enforcement sources, the AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre was a gift from the accused’s
father, Colin Gray.
The arrest came after new details emerged on Thursday about the teenage suspect’s interest in
previous massacres and his father’s ownership of several guns, including a military-style rifle
like the one used in the attack. AR-15s are among the most frequently used weapons in mass
shootings in the United States.
According to Two family members, the youth, who has been charged with four counts of felony
murder, had a troubled home life.
Missed Opportunity
There are also increasing concerns about missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy. Sheriff’s
officers had interviewed the teenager over a year ago regarding threats of a school shooting made
on social media but found no conclusive evidence linking him to the posts.
First Parents Charged for Child’s Mass School Shooting
Ethan Crumbley was 15 when he opened fire at Oxford High School in Michigan on November
30, 2021, killing four classmates. Both his parents were convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
They are the first parents to be held criminally responsible for their child’s mass school shooting.
Each has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars, while their child has received a life sentence.
