A 14-year-old identified by authorities as a student at Apalachee High School in Georgia has been charged as an adult with four counts of felony murder after a shooting that left four people dead.
The suspect, identified as Colt Gray, surrendered to law enforcement on Sept. 4 after being confronted at the school in rural Winder following a shooting that killed two students and two teachers, authorities said. Eight other students and a teacher were injured.
The suspect would be charged with murder and tried as an adult, Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith had said at a news conference Sept. 4.
Gray was charged with four counts of felony murder on Sept. 5, with additional charges expected, per the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
What do we know about the suspect?
The suspect was already known to law enforcement after being questioned last year in connection to online threats about carrying out a school shooting, the FBI’s Atlanta field office said in a joint statement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, who was 13 at the time, denied making the threats during the interview. He was approached after the FBI received anonymous tips about online posts referencing school shootings, according to the statement.
The boy’s father was also interviewed and told authorities that he owned hunting guns, but his son did not have unsupervised access to them, according to the statement.
The suspect used an “AR platform-style weapon” in the shooting, Hosey said at the news conference. There are no state laws restricting people under 18 from possessing rifles or shotguns in Georgia.
After interviewing the suspect and his father in 2023, authorities said there was no probable cause to arrest him. They alerted local schools to continue monitoring the suspect, the statement said.
What was the suspect’s motive for the shooting?
Law enforcement is conducting interviews with the suspect, his family and witnesses to determine a motive.
In an interview with NBC affiliate WXIA, an Apalachee High School student named Lila said the shooter tried to enter her classroom, but a student in the classroom did not open the locked door.
“She backed away. I think she saw him, or maybe somebody said something, but I’m pretty sure she saw that he had a gun, and she backed away,” Lila said.
She also described the suspect as “quiet,” and said he didn’t attend school often.
“He never really talked. He was pretty quiet,” she told the station. “He wasn’t there most times. Either he just didn’t come to school or he just would skip class.”
“Even when he would’ve talked, it was one word answers or short statements,” she added.
Who were the victims?
Two 14-year-old students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were killed along with two math teachers. Christina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, who was also a football coach at the school, were killed in the attack.
“I never imagined that I would be speaking to the media in my career over something that happened today, the pure evil that happened today,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said at a news conference.
“My heart hurts for these kids. My heart hurts for our community. But I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
