WINDER, Ga. — In a landmark verdict that further tests the legal boundaries of parental responsibility, a Barrow County jury on Tuesday found Colin Gray guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting carried out by his son.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours on March 03, 2026, before returning a guilty verdict on all 27 counts. Gray, 55, was charged following the September 4, 2024, massacre where his then-14-year-old son, Colt Gray, used an AR-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers. Seven others were injured in the 41-second attack.
The Case Against Colin Gray
Prosecutors successfully argued that Colin Gray “gave his son the detonator” by purchasing the firearm as a Christmas gift in 2023, despite being aware of his son’s deteriorating mental health and a previous FBI interview regarding online school shooting threats. During the trial, evidence revealed that the boy’s mother and grandmother had previously urged Colin to lock up his weapons.
“He could have prevented this,” prosecutors told the jury during closing arguments on Monday. “Instead, he provided the very weapon used to shatter this community.”
Defense and Testimony
Taking the stand in his own defense last Friday, an emotional Colin Gray testified that he never believed his son was capable of such “evil.” He claimed he bought the rifle to encourage his son’s interest in the outdoors and hunting, stating, “There’s no way I thought this was Colt” when he first heard news of the shooting.
However, testimony from the defendant’s daughter proved damaging. She told the court that on the day of the shooting, her father asked her to “cover for him” if investigators questioned her about his knowledge of the boy’s access to firearms.
A National Precedent
The conviction of Colin Gray follows the 2024 landmark case of James and Jennifer Crumbley in Michigan, marking a significant shift in how American prosecutors hold parents accountable for gun violence committed by their children. Gray now faces a maximum sentence of up to 180 years in prison.
Colt Gray remains in custody awaiting his own trial for the murders of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates on sentencing dates and community reactions.