A 14-year-old student from Apalachee High School, charged in a shooting that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance on Friday.
Colt Gray faced arraignment in Barrow County on four counts of felony murder related to the tragic incident that has left the small community in north Georgia mourning. The teen was escorted into the courtroom in shackles, with his long hair partially obscuring his face throughout the session.
Judge Currie Mingledorff explained Gray’s rights and noted that if convicted, he could face life imprisonment. Prosecutors allege that he used an AR-style rifle to open fire on campus Wednesday morning, resulting in four fatalities and injuries to nine others, with all but two being shot, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin Gray, 54, is expected to appear in the same courtroom later on Friday, facing charges including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of child cruelty.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith condemned the incident, stating, “A young person brought a gun into a school and committed an evil act that took lives and caused mental and physical harm to many others.”
Family members of the victims were present in the small courtroom, visibly emotional. One woman held a doll of the Disney character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit while others wiped away tears.
This shooting marks the 45th school shooting of 2024 and is the deadliest since a March 2023 incident at The Covenant School in Nashville, which resulted in six deaths.
Key Details:
– Colt Gray’s Legal Status: Although his case has been moved to adult court, he will remain in a juvenile facility until he turns 17, as per Georgia law.
– Identities of the Victims: The shooting resulted in the deaths of two 14-year-old students—Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn—and two teachers, Cristina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39. Irimie was reportedly celebrating her birthday with students when the shooting occurred.
– Injuries: Nine others were injured, with seven being shot. All are expected to recover.
– Previous Threats: Last year, authorities investigated Colt Gray and his father regarding online threats of a school shooting, which were ultimately deemed unfounded.
– Threats Received: On the morning of the shooting, Apalachee High School received a phone threat mentioning potential shootings at multiple schools.
– Gun Purchase: Colin Gray reportedly bought the AR-style rifle used in the shooting as a holiday gift for his son in December 2023, following earlier inquiries into threats made by Colt.