What Happened

A father in Georgia was found guilty of murder and manslaughter for giving his teenage son the gun used in a school shooting that killed four people.

The Verdict

Colin Gray was convicted on all charges after less than two hours of jury deliberation. He was found guilty of:

• Second-degree murder for the deaths of two 14-year-old students. This charge applies when a child’s death is caused by cruelty.
• Involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of two teachers. This means causing a death without intent.

He was also convicted of reckless conduct and cruelty to children for the other victims injured. He will be sentenced later. Second-degree murder carries 10 to 30 years in prison; involuntary manslaughter carries 1 to 10 years.

Families’ Reactions

Gray remained calm as the verdict was read. Deputies handcuffed him after the judge polled each juror. Family members of the victims cried but did not speak to reporters afterward. Gray’s lawyers also left without comment.

The teen shooter’s mother, Marcee Gray, was not charged. She testified that she had asked her estranged husband to lock up all guns. She declined to comment after the trial.

The Shooting Day

Prosecutors said Colin Gray gave his son, Colt Gray (who was 14 at the time), the rifle as a Christmas gift. He allowed his son to access it and ammunition even though the boy’s mental health was getting worse.

Colt Gray had a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland, Florida, shooter. Prosecutors said the father had “sufficient warning” his son could hurt people.

On September 4, 2024, Colt Gray brought the rifle to Apalachee High School in his backpack. He left class, got the gun from a bathroom, and opened fire, killing two students and two teachers. Another teacher and eight students were hurt.

Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty to 55 counts, including murder. His next court date is in March.

Parents’ Responsibility

This case is part of a new trend where parents are held criminally responsible for their child’s school shooting.

District Attorney Brad Smith said there were many warnings about Colt Gray’s obsession with school shooters. “You just had to do one thing—take that rifle away—and this would have been prevented,” he said.

The first U.S. parents convicted for a mass school shooting were Jennifer and James Crumbley in Michigan. Their son killed four students in 2021. They are serving 10-year prison terms.

Smith noted that after the Michigan case, Marcee Gray asked her husband to secure the guns. “So Michigan was able to move the needle… We hope we’ve moved the needle a little further,” he said.

New Safety Laws in Georgia

In response to the shooting, Georgia lawmakers passed a school safety bill. It creates:

• An alert system for students who have made violent threats.
• A rule for police to tell schools if a child threatens someone at school.
• Mobile panic alert buttons for schools.
• Faster transfer of student records when kids change schools.
• Mental health coordinators in every school district.

Governor Brian Kemp also approved an extra $50 million for school safety.