WINDER, Ga. – On Friday, the 14-year-old accused of participating in the shooting at Apalachee High School, along with his father, attended a court hearing regarding the incident that resulted in the deaths of four individuals and shook a nearby community in Atlanta.

Colt Gray, the teenage suspect, faces four charges of felony murder and is currently being held without bail in a juvenile detention center. During his appearance in a Barrow County courtroom, he wore a green shirt and was shackled at the wrists and ankles, avoiding eye contact with the audience that included several relatives of the victims.

His father, Colin Gray, aged 54, was formally charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. According to an arrest warrant obtained by YSL News, Colin is accused of providing a firearm to Colt knowing he posed a danger to himself and others.

Neither Colt nor his father entered any pleas or asked for bail during the hearings.

The tragic incident occurred just over a month into the school year, resulting in widespread grief throughout Winder, roughly 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, marking it as the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in over a year.

Upcoming Charges for Shooter, Says DA

On Friday, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith informed reporters that Colt Gray will soon face a grand jury. He indicated that more charges will be added during the upcoming hearing in October.

“Colt Gray will face additional charges,” Smith asserted.

Currently, the charges against Gray focus solely on the four individuals who were killed in the shooting. Additional charges related to injured victims will be determined once those who were injured have the opportunity to recover both physically and mentally, allowing them to provide further details to the authorities, according to Smith.

“There will be further charges concerning the other victims,” he emphasized on Friday.

Father Claims He Was Educating Son on Firearm Safety

In May 2023, the FBI relayed anonymous tips about threats to a school, received through the gaming platform Discord, to the sheriff’s office in Jackson County. A transcript obtained by YSL News reveals details of discussions investigators had with Colin and Colt Gray.

Colin Gray stated that he and his son “often go shooting” and that he aimed to teach Colt about firearms and safety to divert him from video games and encourage outdoor activities, as noted in the transcript.

The father described how Colt, then 13, had faced bullying at school and dealt with the challenges of his parents’ divorce. They had also experienced an eviction from their home several months prior. Colin took in Colt, while his ex-wife relocated with their two younger children.

When asked about his son’s access to firearms, Colin stated, “Nothing is loaded, but they’re accessible.” He later added that Colt “understands the seriousness of weapons – how to handle them, and when not to.”

The teen denied making any online threats and claimed he deleted his Discord account after it was hacked. Investigators faced conflicting evidence, which led them to close the case without identifying the origin of the post.

The investigator’s report mentioned that advice was given to Colin about keeping firearms securely locked away, and suggested keeping Colt out of school until the concerns were addressed, although the school year had already ended by the time the tip was received.

Winder Residents Reeling from High School Shooting

“This isn’t something that should happen here. It occurs elsewhere. It’s just not supposed to happen in our town,” said Tommy Jennings, president and CEO of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, located in the historic downtown area of Winder.

Having lived in Winder for most of his life, he described seeing a series of police cars rushing past his office—an uncommon sight for the city of approximately 20,000 residents.

“This event will be etched in the memories of local residents, akin to 9/11. People will always remember where they were when it happened,” he recounted. “Even now, when I hear a police siren, it brings back the memory; this will linger with us for a long time.”

Vigils have been held with flowers adorning the steps of the outdoor stage at Winder’s Jug Tavern Park. Local businesses display signs showing solidarity, with messages saying “Pray for Apalachee.”

Jennings mentioned that many individuals are experiencing grief in solitude; however, “Whenever two or three gather in one place, the topic arises and you can observe people comforting one another.”

Mother of Apalachee student recounts a ‘terrifying’ ordeal

At a flagpole adorned with flowers at Apalachee High School, Katie Strickland stood a few feet away from her daughter, a sophomore, who was silently mourning. Although her daughter wasn’t ready to share, Strickland, who is a night dispatcher in Barrow County, clearly remembers receiving a text from her on Wednesday.

“I was asleep and it was sheer luck that I checked my phone; she had messaged me saying, ‘Mom, please come get me. There’s a shooter here,’” Strickland explained. “I rushed over as quickly as possible. I just needed to see her, to ensure she was safe.”

Strickland also had two other daughters at the nearby middle school, which was similarly locked down following the incident.

“I have one here, and two are over there. It was just terrifying,” she expressed.

Her 10th grader didn’t witness the event but clearly heard the gunfire. Friday morning marked their first time back at the school, according to Strickland.

“It’s unbelievable to think this happened in our town, where I grew up,” Strickland remarked. “You never imagine such a thing could happen to you, and when it does, it still feels surreal to be here witnessing this.”

Remembering the four victims of the school tragedy

In the aftermath of the shooting, friends and family members have shared heartfelt memories of the four victims who lost their lives: Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both age 14, along with math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

Aspinwall, who acted as the defensive coordinator for the Apalachee High School football team, was described by Head Coach Mike Hancock as a “wonderful dad, person, and a dedicated father.”

“He adored his two daughters and cherished his wife,” Hancock noted. “He was passionate about football and had a strong reputation in this community.”

Students remembered Irimie as a nurturing and patient educator. Friends and pastors shared with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that she proudly embraced her Romanian heritage and was engaged in the expatriate community.

Lisette, Angulo’s older sister, reflected poignantly on her brother, calling him “incredibly sweet and compassionate,” as per a GoFundMe page set up for his funeral. “He was deeply cherished by many. His passing was completely unforeseen,” Lisette Angulo wrote. “We are devastated.”

Schermerhorn was characterized by acquaintances as a friendly young man who loved reading, gaming, and visiting Walt Disney World, as reported by The New York Times.

Aunt claims shooter sought help before the tragedy

The aunt of the alleged shooter, responsible for the deaths of four individuals at Apalachee High School, told The Washington Post that her nephew faced severe mental health challenges and “was desperately calling for help from everyone around him” in the lead-up to the shooting.

“The adults in his life let him down,” reported Annie Brown, the aunt, to the publication.

Living in Central Florida, Brown conveyed her worries regarding her nephew’s access to firearms through messages to a relative, according to The Post. She revealed that the suspect’s grandmother had reached out to the school for help from a counselor.

A week prior to the shooting, the grandmother texted, indicating her grandson “was starting with the therapist tomorrow,” The Post stated.

Teenager arrested after making threats

A 15-year-old student was taken into custody Wednesday after authorities reported that the teenager referenced the Apalachee High School shooting and declared intentions to “finish the job to target another school in Jackson County.”

Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum confirmed Thursday that the threat was made on a school bus. She stated there were witnesses to the threat and the suspect was subsequently located and brought in for questioning.

Afterward, the young individual faced charges and was placed in the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville, the same facility housing the suspected perpetrator of the Apalachee High shooting.

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