US Father Sentenced to 15 Years for Giving Rifle to Son Who Carried Out School Shooting
A Georgia man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after giving his teenage son a rifle and shooting accessories, following a deadly school attack. Colin Gray was found guilty in March, with prosecutors saying he ignored warning signs.
A court in the U.S. state of Georgia has sentenced Colin Gray, the father of a teenager who opened fire at his high school, to 15 years in prison. The 55-year-old man was found guilty in March on charges related to the attack.
On September 4, 2024, 14-year-old Colt Gray shot 11 people at Apalachee High School near Winder. Two 14-year-old students and two teachers were killed. The attack became the deadliest school shooting in Georgia's history.
The case drew additional attention because of the shooter's name. Colt Gray shares his surname with Samuel Colt, the 19th-century firearms manufacturer whose company later gained the patent for the AR-15 rifle. While the coincidence was not connected to the crime, it fueled public discussion.
Court documents show that Gray's father bought him an AR-type rifle as a Christmas present in 2023. The gift came just seven months after the boy had been questioned by police over online threats to carry out a school shooting. Prosecutors said the father ignored several warning signs, including a notebook in which the teenager described plans to kill students and teachers.
In addition to the rifle, Colin Gray purchased ammunition, an optical scope and other shooting accessories for his son. Prosecutors argued that Gray was in the best position to prevent the massacre but failed to act.
