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Father of accused Apalachee HS shooter to appear in court for arraignment
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Father of accused Apalachee HS shooter to appear in court for arraignment

Colin Gray, 54, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, 14, enters the Barrow County Courthouse for his first appearance September 6, 2024, in Winder, Georgia. (Photo by Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images)

The father of the teen accused of killing two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School is expected in court for an arraignment hearing Thursday.

Colin Gray faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter.

His son, Colt Gray, is accused of opening fire using a “black AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle” inside Hall J of the high school during the second period on September 4. Two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 years old.were killed. Nine others were injured.

Prosecutors say Barrow County father knew his son was obsessed with school shooters and even had a shrine above his home computer for the shooter during the Parkland, Fla., massacre in 2018, but took no action.

MORE: Colin Gray is not the first parent arrested after his child was accused of fatal shooting

At a hearing in October, investigators said Gray gave Colt the assault rifle used in the fatal shooting as a Christmas present the previous year.

During his interrogation after the shooting, Colin Gray also allegedly mentioned that Colt had asked him for a larger magazine and that he had purchased one from him as well as a sight for the rifle and ammunition for the pistol.

Colt Gray pleaded not guilty in October. He should be tried as an adult.

MORE: Shocking new details revealed in hearing about father of Apalachee HS shooting suspect

Investigators testify about Colin Gray’s reaction to Apalachee HS shooting

A GBI agent testified at a hearing in October that he learned from Colin Gray that he had received disturbing text messages from his daughter and ex-wife on the day of the shooting. After reading the texts, Colin said he went home and turned on the news, where he saw reports of the Colt school shooting. He told investigators he then went to Colt’s room to look for the AR-15-style rifle he had given him, but it disappeared.

Investigators also said Colin Gray did not appear surprised when told of the shooting and did not immediately express remorse after learning of the shooting. The man also allegedly told the investigator that Colt Gray had become increasingly violent toward him and his mother in the months leading up to the shooting.

After the testimony, the judge found probable cause to bring Colin Gray to trial.

Gray is expected to hear all charges against him and will be asked to enter pleas at the arraignment hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday. He can, however, give up his appearance like his son did.