THE teen accused of killing four and injuring nine more in the shooting at Apalachee High School will not face the death penalty.
Colt Gray, 14, appeared in court on Friday for four counts of felony murder after allegedly unleashing a deadly rampage on a high school in Winder, Georgia, located about an hour outside of Atlanta, on Wednesday.
Barrow County Sheriff’s OfficeSuspect Colt Gray, 14, who faces four counts of felony murder after the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School[/caption]
ReutersGray appears in court in Barrow County on Friday[/caption]
ReutersThe mugshot of Colt Gray’s father, Colin Gray, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder[/caption]
ReutersGray being led out of court after staying quiet throughout his hearing[/caption]
Gray appeared before Judge Currie Mingledorff on Friday morning and stayed quiet and withdrawn during the bond hearing.
At first, the judge told the teen that he could face the death penalty or life in prison if he’s convicted on any of the four counts against him.
The judge then clarified that the death penalty is not a possibility as the suspect is under the age of 18.
Gray’s attorney submitted no request for bond after the judge told him that the maximum charges he could face for the four counts include the death penalty and life in prison without parole.
The families of the victims were seen sitting in the first row of the courtroom, according to CNN.
Two teachers and two students were killed in the gunfire.
Officials identified the victims as 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie.
What we know so far…
Four people are dead, and nine others were injured, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations confirmed.
Students Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Christian Angulo, 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie were identified as those killed.
14-year-old student Colt Gray was named as the suspected shooter.
Gray and his dad were interviewed by the FBI a year before after authorities received online threats of a possible school shooting.
A classmate said Gray was blocked from entering a classroom by a student who spotted his gun.
Students gathered on the football field after the attack.
President Biden and Vice President Harris were briefed.
Devastating texts revealed student’s fear.
Nine more victims were rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
DAD IN COURT
A day after the tragedy, the suspect’s dad, Colin Gray, was hit with charges after it was revealed that he bought Colt an AR-15 style gun for Christmas.
“These charges stem from Mr. Gray knowingly allowing his son Colt to possess a weapon,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said at a news conference on Thursday.
Colin, 54, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
After Colt appeared before the judge at 8:30 am on Friday morning, his dad will be arraigned in the same Barrow County Courthouse room an hour later.
Colt surrendered immediately when cops at the school confronted him.
Timeline of Apalachee High School shooting
Below is a timeline of the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4:
8:30 am – First period begins at AHS
9:45 am – Suspect Colt Gray leaves algebra class, according to his classmate
10:20 am – Police start to receive calls about an active shooter
10:23 am – Law enforcement officers are dispatched to school and arrive in minutes
10:45 am – AHS sends message to parents saying the school is in a hard lockdown
11:20 am – Students are evacuated to the football field
11:56 am – Barrow County Sheriff’s Office reports a suspect is in custody
2:13 pm – Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirms four people were killed and nine were hospitalized with injuries
Police said at a press conference that the teen was cooperating and speaking with investigators while he was held at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center.
The devastating shooting happened over a year after the FBI was first made aware of the father and son after violent threats made on Discord were traced back to the duo.
In May 2023, FBI responded to a report that someone had threatened to shoot up a school on an online gaming platform.
When investigators interviewed Colt, who was 13 at the time, he insisted that he had been hacked on Discord and denied the threats.
EPAMembers of the community in Winder, Georgia, mourn after the shooting at Apalachee High School[/caption]
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