Colin Gray, the father of the teenager responsible for the deadly Apalachee High School shooting, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a Georgia jury found him criminally responsible for giving his son access to the weapon used in the attack.
Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm handed down the sentence on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Gray, 55, was convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct and cruelty to children. The sentences imposed on the various charges will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 15 years behind bars.
Prosecutors said Gray purchased an AR-15-style rifle for his son, Colt Gray, as a Christmas present despite several warning signs concerning the teenager’s mental health and fascination with school shootings.
Authorities also said law enforcement had previously advised the father to restrict his son’s access to firearms. However, prosecutors argued that Gray failed to secure the weapons or obtain adequate psychological assistance for the teenager.
Colt was 14 when he opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder on September 4, 2024. Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed alongside teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie. Several other students and a teacher were wounded.
During sentencing, victims’ relatives delivered emotional statements describing the lasting pain, trauma and devastation caused by the attack. Prosecutors requested an 80-year prison sentence, arguing that the tragedy could have been prevented had Gray acted on the warning signs. His defence team sought a 10-year prison term followed by probation.
Judge Primm said Gray had not intended for the shooting to happen but stressed that his repeated negligence contributed to the deadly outcome. The judge also distinguished the father’s failures from the deliberate actions committed by his son.
The sentence came two days after Colt Gray, now 16, was ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 55 charges.
The case marks the first time a Georgia parent has been convicted of second-degree murder in connection with a mass shooting carried out by their child, establishing a historic precedent for parental accountability and firearm responsibility.
