The small community of Jefferson, Georgia, was rocked by a tragic school shooting that left two teachers and two students dead. The 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, was arrested in connection to the incident, but what shocked investigators even more was the arrest of his father, Colin Gray.
Colin Gray was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed that they had visited the Gray family home in May 2023 after reports that Colt had made threats to shoot up a local middle school on the social media app Discord.
During the visit, Colin Gray mentioned that his son had “some problems” at his previous school but that things had improved since he changed schools. He also admitted to having hunting rifles in the house but claimed that Colt only used them under supervision and denied making any mass shooting threats.
The director of the GBI, Chris Hosey, called this a “difficult” time for the community and urged everyone to remain vigilant. He emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to school faculty and reassured the public that law enforcement agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the safety of students and citizens.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith announced that all nine injured individuals, including two teachers and seven students, were expected to make a full recovery. He praised the teachers as heroes and asked the community to come together and support each other during this challenging time.
The tragic events at Apalachee High School have left the community reeling, but they have also shown the resilience and strength of the people who are determined to support each other in the face of adversity.
