WINDER, Ga. – The teenager accused of the Apalachee High School shooting, along with his father, appeared in court on Friday to face charges related to a tragic attack that resulted in four fatalities and shook a small community near Atlanta.

The 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, has been charged with four counts of felony murder and is being held without bail at a juvenile detention center. During his appearance in a Barrow County courtroom, he was seen wearing a green shirt and was restrained with shackles. He avoided making eye contact with the audience, which included several family members of the victims.

Colin Gray, the suspect’s father, aged 54, faced charges including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. An arrest warrant acquired by YSL News indicated that Colin Gray is accused of giving a firearm to Colt Gray, being aware of his potential danger to himself and others.

Neither the father nor the son made a plea or sought bail during their hearings.

The incident happened just over a month after the start of the school year, resulting in deep sorrow for the city of Winder, located about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The community is grappling with the aftermath of the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in over a year.

Additional Charges Expected for the Shooter, DA Confirms

Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith provided an update to reporters on Friday morning, stating that Colt Gray will soon face a grand jury. Smith indicated that further charges will be added at this upcoming hearing set for October.

“Colt Gray will face more charges,” Smith confirmed.

Currently, Gray has only been charged in relation to the four deceased from the shooting. New charges will be considered once the injured victims recover both physically and emotionally, allowing them to provide more information to authorities, according to Smith.

“There will be new charges that address the surviving victims,” he reiterated on Friday.

Father Claims He Was Teaching Son About Firearms Safety

In May 2023, the FBI passed on anonymous tips to the Jackson County sheriff’s office about threats to “shoot up a school” made on Discord, a platform commonly used for gaming. A transcript obtained by YSL News reveals the conversations between investigators, Gray, and his father.

Colin Gray stated he and Colt often went shooting together and that he was attempting to educate his son about firearms and safety to steer him away from video games and encourage outdoor activities, according to the transcript.

The father mentioned that his son, then 13, had faced bullying and difficulties due to their recent divorce. Months before, the family had been evicted from their home. Subsequently, Colin took Colt in while his ex-wife moved with their younger children to a different location.

When questioned about his son’s access to firearms, Colin Gray acknowledged that while there were no loaded weapons, some firearms were accessible. He further asserted his son was aware of the seriousness of guns and their proper use.

The teenager denied having made online threats, explaining to officers that he had deleted his Discord account after a security breach. Investigators could not identify the post’s author due to conflicting evidence, leading to the case being closed.

“I advised Colin to secure his firearms and keep Colt away from school until this matter was settled,” the investigator noted in a report, mentioning that the school year had ended by the time the tip was reported.

Winder Community Grieves After School Shooting

“This is not something that should happen here. It always happens in other places, never here,” expressed Tommy Jennings, the president and CEO of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, located in Winder’s old train depot.

He has lived in Winder for most of his life and recounted seeing numerous police vehicles rush past his office window on Broad Street – a rare occurrence in the town of around 20,000 residents.

“For the people here, it will feel like their own version of 9/11. Everyone will remember where they were when they learned of the event,” he remarked. “Even now, when I hear a police siren, I am reminded of the incident, and this will stay with us for a long time.”

In Winder, flowers have been placed at the steps of the outdoor stage in Jug Tavern Park, where a vigil was held on Wednesday, with another scheduled for Friday night. Several local businesses are displaying signs that say “Pray for Apalachee.”

Jennings noted that most individuals are mourning in private; however, “Whenever a few people come together, the discussion inevitably arises, and you witness them offering support to one another.”

Mother of Apalachee student recounts ‘frightening’ ordeal

At a flagpole adorned with flowers at Apalachee High School, Katie Strickland stood a few steps away from her sophomore daughter, quietly grieving. While her daughter wasn’t ready to share her experience, Strickland, a night dispatcher in Barrow County, vividly recalls the messages she received on that Wednesday.

“I was asleep, and it was a miracle that I glanced at my phone just in time. She had reached out saying, ‘Mom, please come and get me. There’s a shooter here,’” Strickland said. “I rushed as fast as I could… I needed to see her, to make sure she was alright.”

Strickland had two other daughters at a nearby middle school that was also on lockdown during the incident.

“I have one here and two locked down over there. It was just so frightening,” she expressed.

Although her 10th grader didn’t witness the shooting, she did hear the gunfire. Friday morning marked the first occasion Strickland felt ready to return to the school.

“It’s unbelievable that something like this occurred in this town. I grew up here,” Strickland shared. “You never think something like this will happen to you, and when it does, it still feels surreal to stand here and see all of this.”

Friends and family reflect on four lives lost in school shooting

In the aftermath of the shooting, friends and family members have shared heartfelt tributes to the four victims: 14-year-olds Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, along with math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Describing Aspinwall, who was a defensive coordinator for the Apalachee High School football team, Head Coach Mike Hancock said, “He was a wonderful father and an amazing man.”

“He adored his two daughters and his wife,” Hancock noted. “He was passionate about football and held much respect in the community.”

Students described Irimie as a dedicated and kind teacher. Friends and pastors told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that she embraced her Romanian heritage and was active in the Romanian community.

Lisette, Christian Angulo’s older sister, remembered him as “very sweet and incredibly caring,” as stated on a GoFundMe page set up for his funeral services. “He was dearly loved by so many. His passing was sudden and shocking,” Lisette Angulo expressed about her brother. “Our hearts are truly broken.”

Schermerhorn was remembered by those who knew him as a friendly young man who enjoyed reading, gaming, and visiting Walt Disney World, according to The New York Times.

Aunt claims suspect was ‘pleading for help’ prior to shooting

The aunt of the individual accused of shooting four people at Apalachee High School told The Washington Post that her nephew had been grappling with mental health issues and was “desperately seeking help from those around him” in the months leading up to the tragic event.

“The adults in his life let him down,” Aunt Annie Brown stated.

Brown, residing in Central Florida, mentioned her concerns about her nephew’s access to firearms in texts to another family member, according to The Post. She also noted that the suspect’s grandmother approached his school to request assistance from a counselor.

A week prior to the incident, the grandmother texted that her grandson “starts with the therapist tomorrow,” as reported by The Post.

15-year-old detained after threat to ‘finish the job’

A 15-year-old was arrested on Wednesday following a report that he referenced the Apalachee High School shooting and stated his intention to “finish the job by targeting another school in Jackson County.”

Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum confirmed on Thursday that the threat was made aboard a school bus. She noted that there were witnesses to the threat, and the teenager was soon located and interviewed at the sheriff’s office.

Following this, the minor was charged and placed in the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville, the same facility housing the suspect from the Apalachee High incident.

Contributions from: John Bacon, Thao Nguyen, Jeanine Santucci, YSL News; Ryne Dennis, Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald