Father of Georgia school shooter found guilty on multiple charges

Colin Gray convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children for his role in 2024 Apalachee High School shooting

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. Gray's 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, allegedly carried out the attack, which left four people dead and several others injured.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around parental responsibility and accountability in mass shootings, particularly when warning signs were present but not addressed. It also raises questions about gun control, mental health support, and the criminal justice system's approach to juvenile offenders.

The details

Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray ignored mounting warning signs about his son's worsening mental state and fascination with prior mass shooters. Despite these red flags, Gray allegedly bought his son the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack as a Christmas gift and provided ammunition. The defense maintained that the responsibility rests solely with the teen, who is being prosecuted as an adult and faces up to 30 years in prison.

  • The shooting occurred on September 4, 2024 at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
  • 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, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children, 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. Colt Gray is being prosecuted as an adult and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Patricia Brooks

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

Jimmy Barry

The defense attorney for Colin Gray, who maintained that the responsibility for the shooting rests solely with Colt Gray.

Apalachee High School

The school in Winder, Georgia where the 2024 mass shooting took place, resulting in four deaths and several injuries.

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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 (kpua.net)

“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 (kpua.net)

“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 (kpua.net)

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 ongoing challenges in addressing mental health issues and gun violence in schools, as well as the complex questions around parental responsibility and accountability when warning signs are present but not addressed.