Mother of Georgia Shooting Suspect Issues Apology in Letter

The mother of the teenager charged in a tragic shooting at a Georgia high school last week has expressed her sorrow in an open letter addressed to the victims’ families. Marcee Gray’s heartfelt message emphasizes her belief that 14-year-old Colt Gray “is not a monster.”

Colt Gray faces four counts of felony murder following the shooting, which resulted in the deaths of two teachers and two students. The victims include math teachers Cristina Irimie, age 53, and Richard Aspinwall, age 39, as well as 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.

In her letter, Marcee Gray conveyed, “To the parents and families of those affected by the tragic events at Apalachee High School, I want to say that I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart. If I could take the place of Mason and Christian, I would without a second thought.”

She also shared her grief for the two teachers who lost their lives while dedicating themselves to teaching and protecting students. “My heart breaks for the 2 teachers who gave their lives while in the service of teaching and protecting our children,” she wrote.

The incident, which occurred on September 4, left eight other students and a teacher injured and sent shockwaves through the small community of Winder. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith stated that Colt Gray had used “an AR-platform style weapon” in the attack, which began around 10:20 a.m. The teenager was quickly confronted by deputies assigned to the school and surrendered without resistance.

In addition to Colt, his father, Colin Gray, is facing serious charges stemming from the shooting. He stands accused of allowing his son access to the semiautomatic rifle involved in the tragedy. Colin Gray is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.

Marcee Gray revealed that she had contacted a school counselor on the morning of the shooting, describing it as an “extreme emergency” and requesting that her son be located. Despite the school’s efforts to send an administrator to his classroom, Colt was not present at that time.

“I will personally never forgive myself for what has happened,” she stated in her letter, expressing her ongoing pain and regret. “My son Colt is not a monster. He is my oldest baby. He is quiet, thoughtful, caring, funny, and extremely intelligent. Please pray for him and the rest of our family, as I am praying for all of you every moment of every day.”

This heartfelt message reflects the complex emotions surrounding the devastating events at Apalachee High School and raises profound questions about responsibility, mental health, and the impact on all families involved.

As the community continues to process this tragedy, the focus remains on healing and supporting each other in the wake of such devastating loss.

Source: USA Today