Georgia shooter rode to school with gun in bag, investigators reveal

On September 4, a tragic high school shooting occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, resulting in the deaths of two students, two teachers, and injuries to nine others. Newly released details from investigators shed light on the actions of the alleged shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, who reportedly arrived at school carrying a semiautomatic assault rifle hidden in his backpack.

Colt was allowed to leave his second-period class under the pretense of visiting the front office. Instead, he sought refuge in a school restroom before launching the attack. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith provided insight into the sequence of events leading to the incident.

According to authorities, the boy’s grandfather revealed that the morning of the shooting, Colt’s mother, Marcee Gray, received a concerning text from him simply saying, “I’m sorry.” In a state of panic, she contacted the school to alert them about her son’s alarming message. Her husband, Colin Gray, also received similar text messages earlier that day.

During her call, Marcee learned that school officials were already aware of Colt’s troubling behavior. The family had sought the school’s assistance about a week before the shooting to arrange psychiatric treatment for him. Marcee expressed in an interview that both she and Colt had agreed he should be admitted for inpatient care.

As tensions grew, a school employee attempted to locate Colt but mistakenly identified him as another student with a similar name. At this time, Colt had left his classroom and was hiding in the bathroom, not addressing the school’s concerns.

Colt Gray now faces charges as an adult, including four counts of murder, with expectations of additional charges related to the injuries sustained by others during the shooting. In a significant turn of events, his father, Colin Gray, was also arrested, facing charges for allegedly providing Colt access to the firearm, knowing his son might pose a danger to himself and others. This includes two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of cruelty to children.

Interestingly, just a year prior, Colt and his father were questioned by FBI agents regarding online threats of a school shooting. Bodycam footage from that investigation shows Colt denying involvement in the threats, but law enforcement indicated they lacked sufficient evidence for an arrest at that time.

Compounding the tragedy, Colin Gray reportedly gifted his son the rifle for Christmas, as confirmed by multiple federal law enforcement sources. The Barrow County school district, which has approximately 13,000 students, resumed classes for students at other schools on a subsequent Tuesday. However, the 1,900 students at Apalachee High School have not yet been given a timetable to return.

On the day of the shooting, below is a timeline of significant events as reported by authorities and major news outlets:

8:15 a.m. – First period starts. It’s unclear whether Colt attended his scheduled class.

9:38 a.m. – First period ends, and students prepare for their next classes.

9:45 a.m. – Second period begins. Witnesses report seeing Colt briefly during algebra class. He asked permission to go to the front office but instead concealed himself in a bathroom with his weapon.

9:50 a.m. – Marcee Gray contacts the school, reporting a severe emergency after receiving a text of apology from her son. A counselor informed her of a teacher’s earlier email expressing concern about Colt’s references to school shootings. Marcee urged staff to locate him.

9:45 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. – An administrator mistook another student for Colt while searching for him in the algebra classroom.

10:20 a.m. – Colt is near the classroom when an intercom announcement prompts confusion among the students. As they attempt to open the locked door, Colt reportedly turns away, and multiple gunshots are heard.

10:23 a.m. – The school enters lockdown following panic button alerts from staff members, while law enforcement swiftly responds.

10:26 a.m. – School resource officers apprehend Colt in the hallway, where he surrenders without resistance.

11:00 a.m. – Officers search the Gray household, while parents gather at the school to collect their children.

1:00 p.m. – Students begin to be released to their parents as the situation is brought under control.

The aftermath of this tragic event continues to resonate within the Winder community, raising concerns about school safety and mental health support for students.

Source: CBS News