The small community of Winder, Georgia, is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating school shooting at Apalachee High School that left four people dead, including two students and two teachers. As the investigation unfolds, shocking new developments have emerged, with authorities arresting and charging the father of the 14-year-old shooter in connection with the massacre.
Colin Gray, the 54-year-old father of the suspect, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced on Thursday. His arrest comes as the community struggles to understand how such a tragedy could have occurred.
The charges against Colin Gray stem from his alleged role in allowing his son, Colt Gray, access to the AR-style rifle used in the shooting. According to GBI Director Chris Hosey, Gray knowingly purchased the firearm as a Christmas gift for his son in December 2023, despite a prior investigation into Colt's online threats to commit a school shooting. "This is a very difficult time, as we know, for students and parents," Hosey said during a press conference. "You all have likely seen reports of incidents of other students making threats today at various schools around our state. In each of these incidents, police law enforcement took charges, and they made arrests, acted very swiftly as we take incidents like this very seriously across this state."
The shooting, which occurred just weeks into the new school year, is the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since the March 2023 massacre at The Covenant School in Nashville. The suspect, 14-year-old Colt Gray, allegedly left his Algebra 1 class around 9:45 a.m. and attempted to re-enter with the rifle. A classmate's quick thinking in refusing to open the door may have saved lives, as Colt then turned his attention to another classroom, where he opened fire. The first report of an active shooter was made around 10:20 a.m., prompting a swift response from school resource officers and local law enforcement. Colt surrendered without further incident and is now in custody at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Centers.
Colt has been charged with four counts of felony murder and is expected to be tried as an adult. According to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, Colt admitted to the crime during questioning, telling investigators, "I did it." The sheriff described the incident as "everybody's worst nightmare" and urged the community to come together in the wake of the tragedy.
The victims of the shooting included 14-year-old students Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, as well as 53-year-old math teacher Cristina Irimie and 39-year-old math teacher and assistant football coach Richard Aspinwall. The community has been devastated by the loss, with tributes pouring in from colleagues, students, and family members. "We are truly heartbroken," Christian's older sister Lisette Angulo shared on a GoFundMe page set up to support the family. Meanwhile, Apalachee Football posted on social media, "To our beloved defensive coordinator Ricky Aspinwall, we will carry you heavy in our hearts. We love you Coach A!!!"
The shooting has also raised questions about the security measures in place at the school. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith highlighted that the quick actions of school staff, combined with newly implemented safety protocols, helped prevent an even greater tragedy. "The protocols in this school and this system activated today prevented this from being a much larger tragedy than what we had," he said.
One of the critical security measures was the use of a system called Centegix, which allows teachers to alert law enforcement by pressing a button on their ID badges. This system had been adopted just a week before the shooting and played a key role in the rapid response by authorities. The Centegix system includes dynamic digital mapping and real-time locating capabilities, providing an essential layer of security for schools.
As the investigation continues, authorities are also looking into a disturbing phone threat made earlier that morning, which warned of shootings at five schools, including Apalachee High. Although investigators have not found evidence of other schools being targeted, they are pursuing any leads that might connect the shooter to potential accomplices.
The tragic events at Apalachee High have left the Barrow County community in mourning and raised serious concerns about school safety. Schools in the district will remain closed for the rest of the week as students and staff process the traumatic incident. Many students, like 14-year-old Macey Right, are struggling with the idea of returning to school. "I really don't want to go back. I feel like I shouldn't have to go back to school worrying about dying," she said.
