WJR News

In the tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday, new details have emerged regarding a call made by the suspect’s mother. According to The Washington Post, Marcee Gray, mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, contacted the school 30 minutes before the attack, warning of an “extreme emergency.”

The Warning Call

At 9:50 a.m., about 30 minutes before the shooting began, Marcee Gray made a 10-minute call to the school’s counsellor, urging them to locate her son immediately. “I told them to find him,” she told the Post, though she declined to provide specifics about what led to the urgent warning. Records show that the school administrator went to Colt Gray’s math class, but he was not present when they arrived.

Gray expressed deep remorse for the pain caused, stating, “I can’t describe the suffering I feel for the families of the victims.”

Legal Consequences for the Parents

Colt Gray has been charged as an adult with four counts of murder. In a rare legal move, his father, Colin Gray, is also facing serious charges, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, and cruelty to children. This is part of an emerging legal strategy aimed at holding parents accountable for allowing minors to access firearms used in attacks.

According to prosecutors, Colin Gray provided the weapon that Colt used in the fatal shooting. The legal case has reignited discussions about gun control, particularly around the responsibilities of parents and guardians in securing firearms from children.

Previous Warnings Ignored

The Washington Post revealed that Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed by law enforcement in May 2023 in relation to online threats of a potential school shooting. Colt Gray denied any involvement in the threats, and his father asserted that his son did not have unrestricted access to firearms, specifically his hunting rifles.

Investigators from a neighboring county were unable to find sufficient evidence to connect either of the Grays to the threats, and the case was closed. This revelation adds another layer of complexity to the investigation, raising questions about whether warning signs were missed.

The Investigation Continues

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting. They have referred further questions to the Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which is overseeing the prosecution. As of Sunday, the office had not yet responded to inquiries regarding the case.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the small community of Winder, Georgia, as well as reignited the national debate over gun control and parental responsibility in cases involving minors and firearms. As more details emerge, attention will likely turn to the actions of both the parents and authorities leading up to the tragic incident.

The Impact on the Community

As the community mourns the loss of the victims, questions are also being raised about the role schools can play in preventing tragedies like this. Apalachee High School is now facing scrutiny over its handling of the warning call from Marcee Gray and the subsequent failure to locate Colt before the attack.

While the investigation is ongoing, the victims’ families and the community at large are left grappling with the aftermath of a preventable tragedy.

A Growing Trend of Accountability

This case is part of a broader trend in the legal system, where authorities are increasingly holding parents responsible for the actions of their children when it involves access to firearms. Similar cases have emerged in recent years, sparking a national conversation about gun safety and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent such incidents.

As the Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office prepares its case, it is clear that the charges against both Colt and Colin Gray will likely set a precedent for future cases involving firearm access and parental responsibility.