Deadly GA School Shooting: Verdict Reached For Dad Of Accused Gunman

WINDER, GA — The father of Colt Gray, the accused teenage gunman in a shooting that left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured at a Georgia high school, was found guilty of murder Tuesday.

In less than two hours, a jury found Colin Gray guilty of all 29 counts he faced, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, the Associated Press reported.

His conviction comes after his then-14-year-old son was accused of opening fire in a deadly shooting in September 2024 at Apalachee High School in Winder. In addition to the two teachers and two students killed, authorities said eight students and a teacher were injured.

Colin Gray is one of a number of parents across the country who have been charged after their children were accused in fatal shootings.

He showed little emotion as the verdict was read and then as he watched each juror being polled by the judge. Deputies then handcuffed him behind his back as he stood at the defense table, consulting with his lawyer. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Colin Gray was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Georgia law defines second-degree murder as causing the death of a child by committing the crime of cruelty to children.

He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killings of teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and was also convicted of multiple counts of reckless conduct and cruelty to children.

Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave his son, Colt Gray, access to a gun and ammunition “after receiving sufficient warning that the teen would harm and endanger the bodily safety of another.” The teen's mother, Marcee Gray — who testified that she had urged Colin Gray to take the guns and lock them inside his truck so they were not accessible to their son — declined to comment after the verdict.

Colin Gray was aware "of his son’s deteriorating mental state and his fascination with campus shootings," according to a past CNN report, citing witness testimony at a previous preliminary hearing.

In the past, news outlets reported Colin Gray was identified as the person who gave his son the assault-style rifle that was allegedly used in the tragic shooting at Apalachee as a Christmas gift.

Testimony revealed he also bought his son "a tactical vest and ammunition" though he knew Colt Gray allegedly battled anger and anxiety, CNN reported in the past.

Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, prosecutors said.

Investigators said Colt Gray carefully planned the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school attended by 1,900 students.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously said Colt Gray hid the rifle in his backpack and carried it onto a school bus the morning of the shooting.

According to investigator testimony, the rifle was wrapped in a poster board with the barrel poking out of the backpack, the Associated Press reported.

The GBI previously said Colt Gray asked to go to the front office, but he instead went to the restroom and hid from teachers.

He later retrieved the rifle and started shooting, the GBI said. Authorities have not indicated a motive in the fatal shooting.

Authorities testified a notebook belonging to Colt Gray contained depictions of "stick figures with wounds," CNN reported. According to the news outlet, “Shoot the teacher first” was written next to the sketches.

He was indicted on a total of 55 counts, including murder. He has pleaded not guilty and the judge in his case has set a status hearing for mid-March.

The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.

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