WINDER, Ga. – The teenager accused of killing two students and two teachers at a Georgia high school appeared in court for the first time on Friday to face murder charges, only hours after his father was arrested on suspicion of enabling the shootings by permitting his son to possess a dangerous weapon.
Colt Gray, 14, appeared in Barrow County Superior Court in Winder at 8.30 a.m. ET, when the judge stated that he faced four counts of criminal murder. He is being treated as an adult in this case.
Shortly after, his father, Colin Gray, 54, appeared in the same courtroom facing 14 accusations, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of child maltreatment. He was informed he may face up to 180 years in jail if convicted of all charges.
Two law enforcement sources involved with the inquiry told NBC News on Thursday night that Gray gave his son an AR-15 model gun as a gift. The judge inquired as to Colt Gray’s ability to read and write English, as well as his understanding of his right to counsel.
Gray, with shaggy, obviously dyed blond hair and his hands tied in front of him, responded meekly, “Yes, sir.” Gray’s counsel requested no bond. He will have alternate counsel chosen by the end of the day.
Gray left the court but returned at 9 a.m. to correct one thing on the record. The maximum sentence is life in prison, with or without parole, but not death. His next hearing is scheduled for December 4, and he will remain in the Gainesville Youth Detention Center.
Gray is also suspected of hurting nine others during the shooting spree at Apalachee High School in Winder. Colin Gray appeared in court less than an hour after his son had.
His attorney stated that new counsel would be provided later Friday but did not request a bond.
Colin Gray was spotted shaking forwards and backward while the judge spoke. His next preliminary hearing is also scheduled for December 4.
Colin Gray gave the firearm to his son after they were interviewed by law enforcement officials in May 2023 in connection with suspected online threats to carry out a school shooting, according to two law enforcement sources.
Colt Gray was not arrested following the interview because he could not be linked to the internet identity that made the threats, according to legal records.
Following the hearings, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith announced in a news conference that Colt Gray will face further charges in connection with the shooting’s victims. When that time comes, he will face another preliminary hearing. Smith claimed his father could face more charges in connection with the injuries.
Smith further noted that Colin Gray was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two children since Georgia law allows for charges of cruelty to minors that result in death.
Smith stated that this is the first time in the state’s history that the parent of a school shooting suspect has been charged in connection with the crime.
It was also revealed Thursday that Colt Gray’s mother, Marcee Gray, was arrested in 2023 on family violence charges. According to Barrow County court records, she pled guilty in December to one count of second-degree criminal property damage and criminal trespass-family violence.
A sentence record further said that Marcee Gray was not to contact Colin Gray except through a third party and only for the children or the divorce.
Marcee Gray also had arrest warrants issued by Barrow County for a November 2023 incident in which drugs were discovered in her car.
NBC News received the warrants on Friday, which were for two counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled narcotic after an officer discovered methamphetamine in a glass jar and fentanyl in a red plastic packet in her car.
Furthermore, the warrants were for misdemeanor dangerous drug possession stemming from a clear plastic baggie containing multiple Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride pills, misdemeanor drugs in the original container because the pills were found in a baggie, possession of drug-related objects after a glass pipe was discovered, and using a false license plate to conceal/misrepresent a car’s identity.
Smith stated that he believed Marcee Gray was working with authorities in the investigation of her son.