In Georgia this week, legal proceedings commence against a father accused of enabling the firearm used in a 2024 high school shooting that killed four people and injured others. Jury selection in the case of Colin Gray begins Monday in a courtroom near Barrow County, where prosecutors allege the defendant provided his teenage son with the weapon despite warning signs about the boy’s behavior and intentions.
Jury Selection Opens Amid High-Profile Case
Colin Gray’s trial opened with jury selection set to take place outside the county where the tragedy occurred, as authorities seek impartial jurors due to extensive local publicity surrounding the crime. The 54-year-old faces a wide range of charges, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and numerous counts of child cruelty, tied to allegations that he allowed his then-14-year-old son to obtain the semiautomatic rifle used in the September 2024 attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Accusations Highlight Parental Responsibility
Prosecutors contend Gray knew of his son’s fascination with past school shootings and that mental health concerns were evident in the months before the attack. Authorities say the father gave his son both the firearm and high-capacity magazines, actions that they argue demonstrated reckless disregard for public safety. If convicted on all counts, Gray could face decades in prison.
Son’s Case and Broader Context
The teenager, Colt Gray, is separately charged as an adult with 55 criminal counts, including multiple counts of murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers. His trial date has not yet been scheduled as he undergoes ongoing evaluations. The case forms part of a broader trend of legal scrutiny on adult accountability in incidents where minors commit mass violence with firearms.
