Winder, Georgia – The father of a teen who killed four people at his high school has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for murder, manslaughter and related charges.
Colin Gray (55) was found guilty in March for the 2024 shooting that claimed two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta. His son, Colt Gray (16), pleaded guilty to the murders last week, and investigators said the rifle used was a gift from his father.
Prosecutors said Colin was the one person who could have stopped it. He failed to send his son to counseling, monitor his online activity, or secure the guns at home – and the court held him criminally liable.
Judge Nicholas Primm handed down the sentence on Thursday, giving 15 years for each second‑degree murder conviction and 10 years for each involuntary manslaughter conviction, all to be served concurrently. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum 80 years while defense sought a 10‑year penalty.
This is the third instance in the United States where a parent has faced criminal charges for a child’s mass shooting. Last year, parents in Michigan were similarly sentenced after their teen killed four students with a gun they bought just days before the attack.
