In a landmark legal decision, a jury in Barrow County, Georgia has convicted Colin Gray, 55, of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and related charges for giving his son, then-14-year-old Colt Gray, the rifle used in the deadly September 4, 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The verdict, returned on March 3, 2026, came after less than two hours of deliberation following an 11-day trial. Colt Gray allegedly killed two classmates and two teachers in a 2024 school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. AP The shooting, the deadliest in Georgi

In a landmark legal decision, a jury in Barrow County, Georgia has convicted Colin Gray, 55, of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and related charges for giving his son, then-14-year-old Colt Gray, the rifle used in the deadly September 4, 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The verdict, returned on March 3, 2026, came after less than two hours of deliberation following an 11-day trial.

Colt Gray allegedly killed two classmates and two teachers in a 2024 school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. AP

The shooting, the deadliest in Georgia’s history, left two students, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, dead, and wounded seven others. Prosecutors told jurors that Gray had given his son the AR-style rifle as a Christmas gift in 2023 and allowed him unfettered access to it despite clear warning signs, including violent outbursts and an obsession with previous school shootings. During the trial, the defense portrayed Gray as a father who bought the rifle to bond with his son through hunting and who never anticipated such a horrific outcome. Gray testified that he struggled with his son’s behavior but did not foresee the attack. Emotional reactions filled the courtroom as victims’ relatives wept when the verdicts were announced. Some families had spoken during earlier hearings about the deep, ongoing impact of their losses, emphasizing that no sentence could bring back their loved ones. The case has drawn national attention as one of the few instances in U.S. history where a parent has been held criminally responsible for a child’s actions in a mass shooting joining other high-profile prosecutions like the parents of the Oxford High School shooter in Michigan. Legal analysts say the decision may influence how prosecutors approach parental responsibility in similar tragedies and spark broader debate over gun safety and the duty of caregivers to secure firearms when minors show signs of risk. Colt Gray now faces 55 criminal counts including murder; his trial is set to continue later this year.

A little more informed. A little more connected.