WINDER, Ga. — A Georgia jury on Tuesday found Colin Gray guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, a verdict that marks the first time a parent in the United States has been convicted of murder stemming from their child’s alleged actions with a firearm they provided. Gray, 55, was convicted on 27 of the 29 charges brought against him, according to court officials.
The conviction centers on Gray’s decision to gift his then-14-year-old son, Colt Gray, an AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas present, a fact confirmed by Gray himself during testimony. Colt Gray is accused of using the weapon to kill two students and two teachers, and injure nine others at Apalachee High School on September 4, 2024. The shooting was the deadliest in Georgia’s history.
Prosecutors argued that Gray disregarded warning signs regarding his son’s mental state and failed to secure the firearm, ultimately enabling the mass shooting. Evidence presented to the jury included images from Colt Gray’s bedroom depicting school shooters, including Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict.
“He didn’t appear to show outward emotions as the jury delivered its convictions,” reported pool coverage of the trial. Following the reading of the verdicts, Gray was handcuffed and taken into custody. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Colt Gray, now 16, has been charged as an adult with four counts of felony murder and 25 counts of aggravated assault. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a separate trial. The case has drawn national attention, raising questions about parental responsibility and access to firearms.
Apalachee High School, located in Barrow County, Georgia, approximately 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, serves around 1,900 students. All schools in Georgia are required to conduct at least one active shooter drill each academic year, a requirement that was in place at the time of the shooting.
The outcome of Gray’s case is expected to have significant implications for similar cases across the country, as prosecutors in other states have attempted to hold parents criminally liable for the actions of their children involving firearms. A trial date for Colt Gray has not yet been set.
