Father Convicted of Murder After Son's School Shooting

Colin Gray found guilty on all 27 charges related to 2024 attack that left 4 dead

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:18pm

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Colin Gray, the father of alleged Georgia school shooter Colt Gray, has been found guilty of murder and manslaughter in connection to the 2024 incident where Colt used an AR-15-style rifle kept in their home to kill 4 people and injure 9 others at Apalachee High School.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around parental responsibility and gun control, with prosecutors arguing that Colin's actions constituted 'criminal negligence' by providing his troubled son access to a deadly weapon despite concerns about his mental health.

The details

Prosecutors accused Colin of buying his 14-year-old son Colt the AR-15 rifle as a Christmas gift and allowing him to access the weapon and ammunition, despite concerns that Colt was dangerous. Colt has since pleaded not guilty to 55 felony counts, including 4 counts of malice murder, for the 2024 school shooting.

  • On September 4, 2024, Colt Gray allegedly carried out a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
  • On March 3, 2026, a Georgia jury found Colin Gray guilty on all 27 charges, including 2 counts of second-degree murder and 2 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

The players

Colin Gray

The 55-year-old father of alleged school shooter Colt Gray, who was found guilty of murder and manslaughter charges related to the 2024 incident.

Colt Gray

The 14-year-old son of Colin Gray who allegedly used an AR-15-style rifle kept in their home to carry out a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in 2024, killing 4 and injuring 9 others.

Marcee Gray

The estranged wife of Colin Gray who testified that their son Colt struggled with mental health issues and needed professional help, which Colin 'just didn't want to deal with'.

Patricia Brooks

The prosecutor who argued that 'the blood is on their hands' of both Colin and his son Colt for the 'immense suffering' caused by the 2024 school shooting.

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What they’re saying

“That man and his son are both responsible for the immense suffering that occurred on September 4. The blood is on their hands.”

— Patricia Brooks, Prosecutor

“I never thought that he would even have a thought process of bringing a gun to school or doing any kind of harm to anybody else. Well, on anybody at school.”

— Colin Gray

What’s next

A sentencing hearing for Colin Gray will be held at a later date to determine his prison sentence, which could range from 10 to 30 years for the murder charges and 1 to 10 years for the manslaughter charges.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the complex issues surrounding parental responsibility, gun control, and mental health treatment, as prosecutors argued that Colin Gray's actions amounted to 'criminal negligence' by providing his troubled son access to a deadly weapon despite clear warning signs.