Father of 14-year-old school shooting suspect faces up to 180 years in prison

JACKSON, Tenn. — After a deadly mass shooting leaves 4 people dead and multiple injured, one question is left unanswered.

On Wednesday, a mass shooting took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia leaving two teachers and two students dead, along with 9 others injured. Friday the 14 year old shooter, Colt Gray, and his father were in court. His father, Colin Gray, has been charged with multiple felonies including multiple counts of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter among others.

This court appearance leaves questions surrounding parents’ responsibility in connection with their child’s crimes.

“The charges that are against the father in this case, stem from him allegedly, knowingly allowing his son to have a weapon,” said Russel Morgan with Morgan Legal Group P.C.

A weapon that was given to Colt for Christmas. Colt was interviewed a year prior to the mass shooting by local law enforcement after threats of violence were made online. This marks only the second time a parent has been charged in connection to their child’s mass shooting.

“There was clearly knowledge here that there could have been a situation where this minor shooter would have been a danger to himself or to others and that’s essentially why these charges are so severe,” said Morgan.

Morgan believes that this, along with the previous case, are setting a new precedent for parents to be held responsible if their child is deemed a threat and commit a heinous crime.

“I believe that if the courts don’t react appropriately and they don’t issue sentences to the parents that were on knowledge and did know that this was possible, and most importantly to the parents that did provide the weapons, then it’s going to set a really bad example for our nation as a whole,” said Morgan.

Colt Gray’s father Colin, faces a maximum sentence of up to 180 years in prison.

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