Winder, Ga. – The juvenile is accused Two students and two teachers were killed by firing A father was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the shooting by allowing his son to possess a deadly weapon, making his first appearance in court Friday to face murder charges at a Georgia high school.
Colt Gray, 14, appeared in Barrow County Superior Court in Winder at 8:30 a.m., where a judge said he faces four counts of felony murder. He is being treated as an adult in this case.
Shortly thereafter, her father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, appeared in the same courtroom, facing 14 charges, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. He was told he could face a maximum sentence of 180 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Two law enforcement sources are familiar with the investigation told NBC News Thursday night Kay Gray gave her son an AR-15 style rifle as a gift.
The judge asked Colt Gray if he could read and write in English and understood that he had a right to counsel.
Gray – with shaggy-looking-dyed blond hair and his hands folded in front of him – spoke softly as he replied, “Yes, sir.”
An attorney spoke for Gray and requested no bond. An alternate counsel will be appointed for him by the end of the day.
Gray left court but was brought back around 9 a.m. to correct an item on the record. The maximum penalty includes life with or without the possibility of parole, and does not include death.
His next hearing is set for Dec. 4 and he will remain in the Gainesville Youth Detention Center.
Gray is also accused of wounding nine others in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.
Colin Gray appeared in court less than an hour after his son did.
His attorney said a new attorney will be assigned later Friday and has not submitted a bond request.
Colin Gray found himself rocking back and forth as the judge spoke. His next preliminary hearing has also been scheduled on December 4.
Two law enforcement sources said Colin Gray gave the weapon to his son in May 2023 after law enforcement officials interviewed the pair in connection with reported online threats to shoot up the school.
Colt Gray was not arrested after that interview because he could not be linked to the online account that made the threats, legal documents show.
Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said at a news conference after the hearing that Colt Gray will face additional charges related to those injured in the shooting. When that time comes, he will have another preliminary hearing. Smith said her father could potentially face more charges in connection with the injuries.
Smith also clarified that Colin Gray was charged with second-degree murder related to the two children killed, because cruelty to children that results in death can be charged under Georgia law.
Smith noted that this is the first time in state history that the parents of a school shooting suspect have been charged in connection with the violence.
It was also revealed Thursday that Colt Gray’s mother, Marcy Gray, was arrested in 2023 on domestic violence charges. Barrow County court records show she pleaded guilty in December to one count each of second-degree criminal damage to property and criminal trespass-domestic violence.
The sentencing record ordered Marci Gray to have no contact with Colin Gray except through a third party and in matters related to the children or divorce.
Marcy Gray had a warrant out of Barrow County for her arrest from a November 2023 incident in which drugs were found in her car.
The warrants, obtained by NBC News on Friday, were for two counts of possession of a schedule II controlled substance after an officer found methamphetamine in a glass jar and fentanyl in a red clear baggie in his car. In addition, the warrants were for possession of a misdemeanor dangerous drug stemming from a clear plastic baggie found with multiple cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride pills, the original container containing the misdemeanor drugs because the pills were found in the baggie, possession of drug related items after the glass pipe was found. and using a false license plate to conceal/misrepresent the identity of the car.
Smith said he believes Marcy Gray is cooperating with authorities in the investigation of her son.
Marisa Parra and Maria Pinero reported from Winder, Patrick Smith from London and Marlene Lenthang from Los Angeles.
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