New information has emerged regarding the tragic events at Apalachee High School, where 14-year-old Colt Gray is accused of fatally shooting four individuals, including two students and two teachers, with nine more injured. Investigations by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, indicate that Gray concealed a "black semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle" in his backpack, which he brought to school and later used in the shooting on September 4.
According to the GBI findings, Gray kept the rifle hidden until the second period, when he asked to go to the front office, at that point he instead went to the restroom to hide, this being the location where he later emerged to begin the attack. After the start of the shooting, it was minutes before law enforcement apprehended him - Gray's arrest occurred at 10:26 a.m. The firearms linked to the incident had been purchased by his father, Colin Gray, who now faces multiple charges related to the shooting and was recently arrested; he allegedly bought the firearm from a store close to both the school and the family's residence.
Amidst the unfolding narrative, a body camera footage release has provided insight into encounters between law enforcement and the Gray family prior to the shooting. As detailed by USA Today, the footage dates more than a year before the tragic event and contains an interview with Colin Gray, wherein he discussed his son's access to weapons and their personal involvement in hunting activities.
In the aftermath, both Colt and his father Colin Gray have faced arraignment in Barrow County, with the son charged with four counts of felony murder and the father facing charges that include involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children - this situation marks him as the first parent in Georgia to be charged for an attack allegedly carried out by his child. Marcee Gray, Colt's mother, expressed remorse in a letter obtained by CNN and relayed by FOX 5 Atlanta, stating "my son Colt is not a monster" and offering her deep apologies to the families affected by the events.
