The father of {the teenager} who allegedly killed 4 people at his Georgia high school in 2024 is set to face trial on murder and manslaughter costs within the newest case testing the bounds of who is accountable for a college taking pictures.
Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, has pleaded not responsible to just about 30 costs, together with two counts every of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
The case stems from the September 2024 taking pictures at Apalachee High School, when then-14-year-old Colt Gray allegedly used an AR15-style rifle to kill two college students and two academics and injure 9 others. He finally surrendered to police and has admitted to the shooting, in keeping with authorities.
More than a 12 months earlier, law enforcement had questioned the teenager and father about “online threats to commit a school shooting,” although no costs have been filed, authorities stated. Even so, Colin Gray purchased a firearm for his son as a Christmas current in December 2023 – the identical firearm he used within the mass taking pictures, in keeping with two law enforcement sources with direct information of the investigation.
The indictment alleges Gray allowed his teenage son entry to a firearm and ammunition after receiving “sufficient warning” that his son would hurt and endanger others, actions that represent “criminal negligence” by “consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk.”
A protection lawyer didn’t reply to a request for remark.
The trial is a part of a broader push to carry extra people accountable for a college taking pictures, a bunch that has grown to incorporate parents and responding law enforcement officers. Testimony is additionally prone to embody emotional tales from those that have been within the faculty that day.
This case bears similarities to the trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley, whose then-15-year-old son killed 4 college students in 2021 at his high faculty in Oxford, Michigan. Prosecutors accused the mother and father of permitting their son entry to the firearm and ignoring warnings about his declining psychological well being and threat to others.
The Crumbleys have been every convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to fifteen years in jail. That was believed to be simply the primary and second time {that a} guardian was held criminally accountable for a mass faculty taking pictures dedicated by their baby.
Andrew Fleischman, a legal protection lawyer in Atlanta, stated the jury’s sympathy for the victims and need responsible somebody might make it a troublesome case for Colin Gray’s protection.
“The state is going to probably argue that, but for this father’s negligence, these kids would all be alive,” he stated. “That’s very hard to get past.”
Still, the case might rely on what particular steps the father took to deal with the dangers: Did he safely safe the firearm and ammunition? Did he take steps to deal with his son’s psychological well being in remedy or in class?
“There are lots of ways that you can show that you are not being fully criminally negligent,” Fleischman stated.
Colin Gray has remained behind bars since his arrest a day after the taking pictures. If convicted, he faces 10 to 30 years in jail on every murder cost and 1 to 10 years on every manslaughter cost.
The trial is set to start with jury choice Monday and is anticipated to final about three weeks.
Colt Gray, now 16, has been indicted on 55 felony counts, together with 4 counts of malice murder, and will probably be tried as an grownup, in keeping with courtroom paperwork. He has pleaded not responsible, though a protection lawyer final 12 months raised the likelihood he could change his plea. A trial date has not been set.
Video: Police interview Georgia taking pictures suspect again in 2023
