The 14-year-old suspect in the tragic Apalachee High School shooting appeared in court for a brief hearing this morning. His father, Colin Gray, also appeared in court shortly afterward.
Colin Gray is facing multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children. It’s alleged that he provided his son with the AR-style firearm used in the shooting despite knowing his son posed a threat.
Law enforcement sources say Gray admitted to purchasing the gun as a holiday gift for his son in December 2023. The investigation into this devastating incident continues.
Read: Bloomingdale High School Student Arrested For Mass Shooting Threat: Hillsborough County Sheriff
Previous reporting:
Colin Gray, the father of the suspected shooter at Apalachee High School, has been charged with multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children in connection to the shooting.
The suspect in the mass school shooting in Georgia has been identified as 14-year-old Colt Gray. According to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, the teen will be charged with murder as an adult.
Two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting, Hosey said at a press conference Wednesday.
“There are four individuals who are deceased from this incident. Nine that have been taken to local hospitals with various injuries. Of those that are deceased, two were students and two were teachers here at the school,” Hosey said.
Timeline of Apalachee High School Shooting Unveiled
Officials have provided a timeline of events surrounding the shooting at Apalachee High School on Wednesday.
Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, stated that the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office received calls reporting an active shooter at the school around 10:20 a.m.
Law enforcement officers, along with two school resource officers assigned to the school, responded to the scene “within minutes,” according to Hosey.
“The resource officers immediately encountered the suspect just minutes after the initial report,” Hosey explained.
Upon contact, the suspect quickly surrendered to the officers and was taken into custody without further incident.
Previous reporting:
Sheriff Jud Smith of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office addressed the media today following an active shooter incident at Apalachee High School, part of the Barrow County School District.
“First and foremost, my thoughts are with our community, our school system, our kids, and parents who had to witness this horrific event,” Sheriff Smith said. “This is a tragic and evil thing we’ve seen today.”
At around 9:30 a.m., authorities received the first call reporting an active shooter on campus. Sheriff Smith confirmed there are multiple injuries, though he did not provide specific details as the situation is still unfolding.
“This is a very fluid investigation. It’s early, and we have asked for assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and other agencies,” he said. “We do have a suspect in custody, and we ask for your patience as we work to gather the facts.”
Sheriff Smith emphasized the importance of respecting the privacy of the affected families as efforts are underway to reunite students with their parents.
“I want to thank the state, federal, and local agencies, as well as the EMS and fire departments that responded quickly,” Sheriff Smith added. “This investigation will take multiple days to determine what happened and why.”
The sheriff declined to answer specific questions, including those about fatalities, saying, “We have multiple injuries, but we are not releasing any further information at this time.”
Sheriff Smith assured the public that updates would be provided, with another statement expected at 4:00 p.m.
“Please be patient with us as we work through this developing situation. We will share more information when it’s available,” he concluded.
Previous reporting:
Gunfire has erupted at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, triggering a massive police response. The school was on lockdown as authorities scrambled to secure the scene.
Multiple news outlets, including Fox 5 Atlanta, 11 Alive, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, have confirmed reports of gunfire within the school. The situation remains fluid, and there are reports of multiple injuries.
Disturbing images from the scene show dozens of ambulances and a medical helicopter, suggesting a potentially serious incident.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has taken to social media to announce that all available state resources have been deployed to assist in the response.
“I have directed all available state resources to respond to the incident at Apalachee High School and urge all Georgians to join my family in praying for the safety of those in our classrooms, both in Barrow County and across the state,” said Kemp.
This is a developing story. Please stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
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