Father of Georgia school shooter found guilty on multiple charges

Colin Gray convicted on 27 counts, including second-degree murder, for his role in 2024 Apalachee High School attack

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A Barrow County jury has found 55-year-old Colin Gray guilty on 27 counts — including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children — for his role in the 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Prosecutors argued that Gray ignored warning signs about his son's deteriorating mental state and fascination with prior mass shooters, and even gifted him the rifle used in the attack.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around parental responsibility and accountability when it comes to gun violence involving minors. It also raises questions about the role of mental health intervention and the legal system's approach to prosecuting both the perpetrator and those who may have enabled them.

The details

Investigators say Gray's 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, brought an AR-15-style rifle to school in his backpack and opened fire, killing four people and injuring another nine. Prosecutors argued that despite seeing warning signs about Colt's mental state and obsession with past mass shootings, Colin Gray bought his son the rifle as a Christmas gift and provided ammunition.

  • On September 4, 2024, Colt Gray allegedly opened fire at Apalachee High School.
  • The two-week trial of Colin Gray concluded on March 4, 2026, with the jury reaching a guilty verdict in under two hours.

The players

Colin Gray

A 55-year-old man found guilty on 27 counts, including second-degree murder, for his role in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting.

Colt Gray

The 14-year-old son of Colin Gray who allegedly carried out the 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School, killing four people and injuring nine others. Colt Gray is being prosecuted as an adult and faces up to 30 years in prison on the murder counts.

Patricia Brooks

The assistant district attorney who argued that Colin Gray ignored warning signs about his son's deteriorating mental state and fascination with past mass shooters.

Jimmy Barry

The defense attorney for Colin Gray who maintained that responsibility for the shooting rests solely with Colt Gray, arguing "This is the person who needs to be punished. He made a conscious decision to do this – a secretive decision."

Mason Schermerhorn

A 14-year-old student killed in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting.

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What they’re saying

“After seeing sign after sign of his son's deteriorating mental state, his violence, his school shooter obsession, the defendant had sufficient warning that his son was a bomb just waiting to go off. And instead of disarming him, he gave him the detonator.”

— Patricia Brooks, Assistant District Attorney (dailyfly.com)

“Everybody wants to see somebody go to jail other than this young man right here. This is the person who needs to be punished. He made a conscious decision to do this – a secretive decision.”

— Jimmy Barry, Defense Attorney (dailyfly.com)

“I struggle with it every day. 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 (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

Colt Gray, now 16, is being prosecuted as an adult and faces 55 counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault. A trial date has not yet been set.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex issues surrounding parental responsibility and accountability when it comes to gun violence involving minors. It underscores the need for improved mental health intervention and a thorough examination of the legal system's approach to prosecuting both perpetrators and those who may have enabled them.