Trial Begins for Father Charged in Georgia School Shooting Case

Mon Feb 09 2026 17:35:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Colin Gray faces serious charges after his son was accused of a deadly school shooting in Georgia, where two students and two teachers lost their lives. The trial highlights issues around parental responsibility and youth violence.

Jury selection starts for Colin Gray, whose son Colt is accused of killing two students and two teachers in a Georgia school shooting. Gray faces charges for unintentionally endangering others by giving his son access to a firearm. The case raises questions about parental accountability in youth violence. Prosecutors point to Gray's prior knowledge of his son’s fascination with school shootings and mental health struggles as factors in the tragedy.

ATLANTA (AP) — Jury selection begins Monday in the trial of Colin Gray, whose teenage son, Colt, is accused of a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia that left two students and two teachers dead. Gray faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and child cruelty, for allegedly providing Colt with access to a firearm after being warned about his potential for violence.

Colt Gray, just 14 at the time, is said to have meticulously planned the assault, even documenting his intentions. Lives were lost, including teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, with additional injuries among others.

In the courtroom, prosecutors will emphasize Gray’s awareness of his son's troubling interests, with indications that Gray had gifted his son a gun and facilitated Colt's access to ammunition. This case marks a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about parental responsibility in youth violence.

With the trial expected to last several weeks, the proceedings will explore the depths of parental influence and the responsibilities that come with gun ownership in today's society.