Winder, Georgia — The father of the Apalachee High School shooting suspect has been arrested in connection with the deadly incident that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced on Thursday. Colin Gray, 54, faces multiple charges, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.

Gray’s son, Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School, is accused of carrying out the attack on Wednesday using an AR-style rifle. The shooting left nine others hospitalized, with varying injuries.

According to law enforcement sources, the elder Gray admitted to purchasing the rifle as a Christmas present for his son in December 2023, despite prior warnings from authorities about threats made by Colt online. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office had previously investigated these threats but closed the case when they could not substantiate the claims.

Colt Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder and is currently being held at the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center. Authorities have indicated that Colt will likely be tried as an adult under Georgia law, which mandates adult trials for juveniles aged 13 to 17 accused of severe crimes.

Details of the Tragedy

The shooting unfolded around 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday when Colt Gray reportedly left his Algebra 1 class and attempted to re-enter, armed with the rifle. A classmate refused to let him in after noticing the weapon, diverting Colt’s attack to a nearby classroom. Eyewitnesses reported hearing 10 to 15 gunshots in quick succession.

Two students, 14-year-olds Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, along with math teacher Christina Irimie, 53, and assistant football coach Richard Aspinwall, 39, were killed in the attack. Christian’s sister described him as a “very good kid and very sweet” on a GoFundMe page set up to support their family, while Apalachee Football paid tribute to Aspinwall, remembering him as a beloved coach and mentor.

A Community in Shock

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp called the incident “everybody’s worst nightmare.” The Apalachee High School community is grappling with the aftermath of the shooting, which has left deep scars just weeks into the new school year.

“The protocols in this school and this system activated today prevented this from being a much larger tragedy than what we had,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. Teachers and staff utilized a safety measure introduced just one week prior, which allowed them to alert authorities quickly through Centegix, a wearable panic button system.

Colin Gray’s Legal Troubles and Investigation Background

Colin Gray’s charges stem from his admitted purchase of the AR-style rifle, despite previous investigations into his son’s behavior. Last year, authorities interviewed both father and son after receiving a tip about an online threat to “shoot up a middle school.” Though no arrest was made at the time, investigators had urged Colin to secure his firearms and closely monitor his son’s behavior.

The weapon used in Wednesday’s shooting was identified as an AR-15-style rifle. Investigators are still piecing together how Colt obtained the firearm and brought it onto school grounds.

Moving Forward

As the investigation continues, the Barrow County Public Defender’s Office has not confirmed whether it will represent Colin Gray. Colt Gray’s first court appearance is scheduled for Friday, and the GBI has confirmed he is cooperating with authorities.

In the wake of the shooting, Apalachee High School has canceled its upcoming football game as the community mourns the loss of beloved teachers and students. Efforts are underway to support the affected families, with community members contributing to fundraising efforts.

This tragedy marks the 45th school shooting in the U.S. this year and the deadliest since the March 2023 shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. As the nation grapples with the ongoing epidemic of gun violence, Apalachee High School now joins a growing list of communities forever altered by such senseless acts.