Apalachee school shooting: Suspected shooter Colt Gray and father Colin Gray will remain in custody

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Accused Barrow County school shooter Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, appeared in person for their first appearances in court Friday morning.

At the hearing, Colt Gray’s attorney did not request bond, and he was returned to the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center soon after.

Colin Gray rocked back and forth as the judge laid out the charges against him. His attorney opted not to request bond, meaning both Colt and Colin Gray will remain in custody.

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson was in the courtroom as both father and son appeared before a judge while the victims’ families sat just feet away.

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After the hearing, District Attorney Brad Smith held a news conference saying he’s just doing his job by charging the father, along with his son.

“I’m not trying to send a message, I’m just trying to use the tools in my arsenal to prosecute people for the crimes they commit,” Smith said.

He went on to say that more charges are expected against Colt Gray once they can interview survivors.

“We’ve been assured by a lot of people that any help we need will be forthcoming,” he said.

Colt Gray is too young to face the death penalty, so he could be facing life in prison. Colin Gray faces up to 180 years in prison.

The younger Gray has been held in the RYDC since Wednesday, after shooting and killing four people and wounding nine others.

As reported by Channel 2 Action News, Colt Gray faces four counts of felony murder for the shooting at Apalachee High School, with the GBI saying more charges are expected.

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Colin Gray, Colt Gray’s father, was arrested on Thursday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. GBI Director Chris Hosey said Thursday night that Colin Gray “allowed” his son to have the weapon used in the deadly school shooting on Wednesday morning.

Colin Gray faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. He was booked into the Barrow County Detention Center on Thursday.

Prosecutors say they will present the case to a grand jury on Oct. 17.

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