The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested the father of the 14-year-old boy accused of killing two teachers and two classmates at his Georgia high school on Wednesday.
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 after the deadly attack on Wednesday, the GBI said.
His son, Colt Gray, has been charged with four counts of felony murder, the agency said, and more charges are expected. He is due in court on Friday.
Colin Gray reportedly told investigators that he bought the AR-style weapon his son used as a Christmas gift last year, CNN reported, citing two law enforrcement source with direct knowledge of the investigation. One of the sources said the gun was bought at a local gun store.
The Christmas gift came a few months after law enforcement investigated the teen for online posts made threatening a school shooting, as CrimeOnline reported. Investigators interviewed the boy and his father, who told them he had hunting guns that were locked safely away and that his son did not have unsupervised access.
Colt Gray denied making any online threats, and investigators said they did not find sufficient evidence for an arrest or any other action.
The teen allegedly opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder Wednesday morning, killing math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo. Nine other people — eight students and one teacher — were wounded.
It was the 45th school shooting in the United States so far this year.
The charges against the elder Gray echo charges filed against James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, as CrimeOnline reported. Ethan Crumbley was 15 when he opened fire at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, killing four classmates and wounding six others. Crumbley pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
His parents were charged with four counts of manslaughter for failing to get their son the help he needed and buying him the gun he used in the shooting. They were both convicted earlier this year and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.
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[Featured image: Colt Gray and Colin Gray/Barrow County Sheriff’s Office]
