On September 4, 2024, two students and two teachers were killed and nine others were injured by a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Authorities arrested and charged 14-year-old freshman Colt Gray with murder and several other crimes. In recent court sessions, Colt Gray’s defense attorney mentioned being ready for a plea hearing only after a psychological evaluation is done. With this announcement, the case changes course for the community and brings up major conversations about school safety and gun control.
The Timeline of Tragic Events at Apalachee High School
On that morning in September 2024, a mass shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Around 9:45 a.m., Colt Gray, who was 14 years old, left his Algebra 1 class, returned to try to open the door, but it was locked. He took the AR-15-style rifle out of the poster board and fired at students in the classroom next door. As a result of the attack, both Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, who were both 14, as well as Cristina Irimie, 53 and Richard Aspinwall, 39, were killed. Nine more people were hurt. At 10:22 a.m., emergency alerts sounded and officers were there shortly after. Colt Gray did not fight back when he was captured. By late morning, the school was safe and people in the community started handling the fallout from the most deadly school shooting in the U.S. that year.
Exploring the Possibility of a Guilty Plea
Reports from recent court sessions suggest that 14-year-old Colt Gray, charged with the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, could plead guilty. There will be a plea hearing in October, as long as the psychological evaluation is completed in time. It has been reported that the defense could allow Gray to plead guilty without a set deal from the prosecution, handing the sentencing choice to the judge. It might mean that victims’ families do not have to go through a trial, but the final decision remains up in the air. The upcoming trial of Colin Gray in September could play a role in choosing the moment for the plea from his son, as Colin is being charged for giving the firearm used in the shooting.
The Family Dynamics and Background
As a child, Colt Gray experienced much upheaval and disorder and this may play a part in what happened at Apalachee. Colt moved to stay with his father, Colin Gray, after his parents divorced in May 2022 and his younger siblings began living with their mom, Marcee Gray. Because the family moved so often, including often being evicted from apartments in Jefferson, Georgia, Colt had little stability as a child. News reports say that Colt endured bullying at his school, adding to how upset he felt. Although Colin Gray knew his son was fascinated by school shootings, he still bought him an AR-15-style rifle for a Christmas gift, the same kind used in the tragedy. He is now accused of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter since he gave his firearm to his son. Her difficulties with drugs and charges related to vandalism caused even more problems for her family. Having these three things together—fighting at home, little parental supervision and easy access to firearm.
Considering the Legal Ramifications for the Gray Family
Colin Gray, father of Colt Gray, is charged with 29 offenses such as second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, because he gave his son the gun used in the shooting at Apalachee High School. They say he provided a gun to Colt despite knowing about his mental state. How the court handles his case in September 2025 could affect expectations for parents in other similar cases.
Colt Gray is expected to make a plea in court in October 2025, but only after a relative psychological evaluation is done. His legal team may ask the judge to decide, challenging the need to work out a sentencing agreement outside of court. At the same time, Colt’s father, Colin Gray, will go on trial starting September 8, 2025, for giving the firearm. A nearby county will conduct the trial to help ensure it is fair. They might bring new changes to the way juvenile laws and parental responsibility regarding guns is handled. Many in the community are watching for these deciding rulings.
