Georgia father sentenced to prison for Apalachee High School shooting
Colin Gray received concurrent sentences for murder and manslaughter following the 2024 attack that killed four people in Winder.
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A Georgia judge has sentenced Colin Gray to prison for his role in the 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School. The 55-year-old was sentenced on Thursday by Judge Nicholas Primm. The sentence includes 15 years for each second-degree murder conviction and 10 years for each involuntary manslaughter conviction, with all terms to be served concurrently.
The Winder attack
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The shooting took place at the school located outside Atlanta. According to the BBC, the attack killed four people: Christian Angulo, 14, Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. While the defendant did not pull the trigger, the prosecution argued he was responsible for the tragedy.
It is clear you failed as a parent. The warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter...and you failed to do the simplest things to prevent this.
Nicholas Primm, Judge
Evidence of ignored warnings
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During the trial, evidence showed that Gray had purchased an AR-style rifle for his son, Colt Gray, for Christmas the year before the attack. This occurred despite police questioning the boy seven months earlier regarding online threats. Barrow County Assistant District Attorney Patricia Brooks told jurors that the defendant had sufficient warning regarding his son's mental state and obsession with school shootings.
The defence had requested a 10-year sentence, with lawyer Jimmy Barry arguing that the son was the individual responsible for the murders. This case marks the third time a US parent has faced criminal charges for a mass shooting committed by their child, as reported by CBS News.
Questions this report answers
+How long will Colin Gray be in prison?
Colin Gray received concurrent sentences of 15 years for each second-degree murder conviction and 10 years for each involuntary manslaughter conviction. This means he will serve a total of 15 years in prison, as the terms run together rather than one after the other.
+What did the judge say about Gray’s parenting?
Judge Nicholas Primm told Gray, 'It is clear you failed as a parent. The warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter...and you failed to do the simplest things to prevent this.' The judge criticised Gray for ignoring signs of his son’s violent tendencies and mental health struggles.
+Who was killed in the Apalachee High School shooting?
The victims were students Christian Angulo, 14, and Mason Schermerhorn, 14, as well as teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. The attack took place at the school outside Atlanta in 2024.
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