ATLANTA, Ga. (WANF/Gray News) – A judge has granted bond for the father of the alleged shooter in the deadly September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Colin Gray is facing several charges after law enforcement reportedly believed he gave Colt Gray, his 14-year-old son, access to the AR-style rifle used in the shooting.
He is facing two counts of second-degree murder, 19 counts of second-degree cruelty to children, two counts of involuntary manslaughter and four counts of reckless conduct.
Colin, who has pleaded not guilty, is facing the harshest charges ever brought against a parent of a juvenile charged in a school shooting.
Judge Nicholas Primm granted Colin a $500,000 bond and barred him from contacting witnesses in the case. Colin had filed a petition for bond in early February.
At the Tuesday bond hearing, Colin was questioned about Colt’s past school attendance. Colt lived in six different places and went to six different schools across five years, which included elementary schools in Hall and Forsyth counties. Colt eventually became a student at Apalachee High School.
Several victims’ family members and a shooting victim spoke out and requested that bond not be granted at the Tuesday hearing.
“The outcome of Colin Gray’s decision was predictable,” Shayna Aspinwall, the wife of Richard Aspinwell who was killed in the shooting, said in an audio message played in court.
David Phenix, a teacher injured in the shooting, delivered a written message to the court. “The amount of pain afflicted on the school and the surrounding communities was immeasurable,” he wrote.
Colin’s legal counsel argued that the state did not show that he would pose “any significant danger” if released on bond and argued for a reasonable bond to be given.
The shooting suspect, Colt Gray, is facing over 50 charges, including felony and malice murder, in connection to the shooting. He has also pleaded not guilty.
Four people were killed and several others were injured in the school shooting. Along with Richard Aspinwall, who was a football coach and teacher, math teacher Cristina Irimie and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo were also killed in the shooting.
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