Colin Gray, 55, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for providing his son, Colt Gray, with the firearm used in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals. The sentencing occurred on Thursday, shortly after Colt Gray, 16, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the September 4, 2024, shooting.
Colin Gray was found guilty in March of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of two 14-year-old students and two teachers. During the trial, jurors reached their verdict in under two hours. In addition to the fatalities, one teacher and eight students were injured in the incident.
Judge Nicholas Primm, who also sentenced Colt Gray, stated that Colin Gray had “failed as a parent” but acknowledged the challenges of punishing negligence due to the absence of intent. Colin Gray had gifted his son the rifle used in the shooting, along with ammunition and accessories. Prior to the shooting, Colt Gray had shown signs of poor mental health and was involved in discussions about mass shootings within a “true crime community.” His mother, Marcee Gray, had requested that Colin Gray keep firearms away from their son.
Prosecutors had sought an 80-year sentence, arguing that Colin Gray disregarded warning signs of his son's potential for violence. This case follows other instances where parents have faced legal consequences for their children's actions in school shootings, including the parents of Ethan Crumbley, who were sentenced to 10 to 15 years for similar reasons.