BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — The father of a 14-year-old accused of opening fire and killing four people at Apalachee High School on Wednesday appeared in court on Friday.
Colin Gray, 54, has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
Gray was rocking back and forth in court, sniffling in his seat as a judge read out his charges. The judge also told Gray that if they were to add together his charges, time to be served could amount to 180 years in prison.
There was no request for bond made by attorneys.
The father is accused of knowingly allowing his son to possess a weapon, the GBI said.
His son, Colt, also made his first appearance on Friday.
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More on shooting at Apalachee High School
Law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter at 10:23 a.m., according to a release from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office. The situation unfolded rapidly, with multiple agencies arriving on the scene to manage the emergency and begin the investigation.
Authorities have confirmed that a 14-year-old suspect is in custody. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and other law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident to gather more details about the suspect and their possible motives.
"First and foremost, we wanna lift up our community, give our sympathies to our community, school system, kids, parents, that had to witness this today," Sheriff Jud Smith said. "Obviously, what you see behind us is an evil thing today."
Apalachee High School is located on Haymon Morris Road, just outside the city limits of Winder in Barrow County, Georgia. The school is part of the Barrow County School District, which also includes nearby schools such as Haymon Morris Middle School, Yargo Elementary School, and Cadence Academy Preschool.
The victims of the shooting are:
- Teacher Richard Aspinwall, 39
- Teacher Cristina Irimie, 53
- Student Mason Schermerhorn, 14
- Student Christian Angulo, 14