Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student, and his 54-year-old father, Colin Gray, appeared in court for the first time on charges related to a school shooting in Georgia.
The incident occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, near Atlanta, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
Colt Gray was apprehended shortly after the shooting on Wednesday while at his school. On Friday, he attended his court hearing in person, where he was restrained with hand and ankle shackles. Gray faces four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the attack.
During the hearing, the presiding judge initially mentioned that the maximum penalty could be the death sentence. However, the judge later clarified that since Colt Gray is a minor, execution is not an option, thereby setting the maximum possible sentence at life imprisonment.
Colin Gray, Colt’s father, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and child cruelty—the most severe charges ever filed against a parent in relation to a school shooting in the United States. Authorities allege that Colin Gray allowed his son to possess an AR-15 style rifle, which was used in the attack.
The victims of the shooting were identified as fellow students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both aged 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Additionally, another teacher and eight students were injured during the incident.
Both Colt and Colin Gray attended their court appearances separately for the first time. Families of the victims were present in the front row of the courtroom, with some visibly distressed. One woman was seen holding a stuffed Disney character toy in her arms.
Colt Gray, dressed in a green T-shirt, acknowledged that he understood the charges against him but remained mostly silent throughout the hearing. Due to the high public interest in the case, the judge allowed news cameras to record and livestream the proceedings.
Colin Gray appeared visibly upset during his hearing, wearing a striped jail-issued shirt and showing signs of distress, such as rocking back and forth after the judge spoke. The judge informed him that he could face up to 180 years in prison based on the charges.
Both Colt and Colin Gray were informed of their rights to a “speedy and public trial by judge or jury.” Neither of them requested bond, and no pleas were entered at this time. They remain in custody, with their next court appearance scheduled for December 4.
In a related note, it is important to clarify that there are no official reports indicating that Colt Gray is transgender.
The families of the victims have called for a thorough investigation and accountability for the actions that led to this heartbreaking loss of life. The case continues to draw significant attention as it moves forward through the legal system.
