Colt Gray, the 14-year-old suspect in the Apalachee High School shooting, is set to face a judge Friday for his arraignment.
This will mark the first court appearance for the teenager, who authorities allege killed four people, including two teachers and two students, at his high school and injured nine others. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations previously said he will be tried as an adult.
He has been charged with four counts of felony murder, with additional charges expected, the GBI said. Gray surrendered at the scene to the school resource officers, according to the GBI.
He was taken into custody on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET, seven minutes after the initial service call went out, according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, which employs the school resource officers.
People pay their respects at the site of a makeshift memorial at Apalachee High School the day after a fatal shooting left four dead in Winder, Georgia, U.S. September 5, 2024.
Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
On Thursday night, Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the deadly shooting, the GBI said.
Colin Gray, 54, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the GBI said.
At a news conference on Thursday evening, Chris Hosey, director of the GBI said that the father was arrested for “knowingly allowing his son, Colt, to possess a weapon.”
It is currently unclear when Colin Gray is expected to appear in court or whether he has obtained legal counsel following his arrest.
An arraignment has been scheduled for the suspect in the recent Georgia high school shooting that left multiple students injured. The incident, which took place at Eastside High School in Covington, Georgia, has sent shockwaves through the community and raised questions about school safety.
The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school, is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm on school grounds. The arraignment is set to take place next week, where the suspect will be formally charged and have the opportunity to enter a plea.
The shooting occurred during a lunch period at the school, when the suspect allegedly opened fire on a group of students in the cafeteria. Several students were injured in the attack, with some sustaining serious injuries. The quick response of school staff and law enforcement helped to prevent further casualties and apprehend the suspect.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community has come together to support the victims and their families. Counseling services have been made available to students and staff at the school, and local officials have pledged to increase security measures to prevent future incidents.
The incident has reignited the debate over gun control and school safety in the United States. Many are calling for stricter gun laws and increased funding for mental health services to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
As the arraignment approaches, all eyes will be on the suspect as they face justice for their alleged actions. The outcome of the case will have far-reaching implications for the community and serve as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of all students in schools across the country.
