Father of Georgia school shooter sentenced to 15 years for providing gun

Colin Gray, the father of a teenage school shooter, received a 15-year prison sentence on Thursday for his role in a 2024 shooting at a Georgia high school. Gray was convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children earlier this year, following his provision of the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack to his then 14-year-old son, Colt Gray. The judge cited Gray's negligence in securing the weapon despite clear indications of his son's deteriorating mental health and fascination with school violence.

The tragic incident occurred on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School, located near Winder, Georgia. Colt Gray fatally shot two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, along with two teachers, Cristina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall. Additionally, nine other students sustained injuries in the attack. Colt Gray, now 16, pleaded guilty last week to 55 charges, including multiple counts of felony murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday.

This sentencing marks a significant development in holding parents accountable for their children's actions in mass shootings, making Colin Gray the first parent in Georgia to be convicted of second-degree murder in such a case. The prosecution highlighted that Gray had supplied his son with the weapon and left it unsecured, despite previous warnings and his son's documented psychological issues and interest in mass violence.