Colt Gray, a 14-year-old, is suspected of shooting and killing four people at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Wednesday. The FBI revealed that Gray had been on their radar since last year when he was investigated by local authorities in connection with online threats of a school shooting.
FBI and Local Authorities’ Prior Investigation
According to a statement from the FBI’s Atlanta field office, in May 2023, the agency received several anonymous tips about potential threats to carry out violence at an unspecified school. The threats, posted online, included images of guns. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office identified Gray, who was 13 years old at the time, as a possible suspect. Authorities interviewed Gray and his father, who stated that while there were hunting guns in the home, Gray did not have unsupervised access to them.
There was no probable cause to take any further action against Gray at that time. However, local schools were alerted to monitor Gray’s activities. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is currently investigating any possible connections between the 2023 threats and the recent shooting at Apalachee High School.
Ongoing Investigation into the Shooting
The shooting at Apalachee High School occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Gray allegedly opened fire with an AR-style weapon. Two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angelo, both aged 14, and two math teachers, Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, were killed. Nine other individuals were injured, including special education math teacher David Phenix.
After the shooting, Gray reportedly surrendered immediately to two school resource officers who were on the scene. He was taken into custody without further incident. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have been conducting interviews with Gray, his family, and others associated with him since his arrest.
Additional Investigative Avenues
GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed that authorities are examining any potential links between Gray’s previous online threats and the shooting. “This is not recent. This is in the past, but we wanted to bring that to your attention because we are pursuing that, working with the FBI on this in any connection to that incident that could be connected to today’s incident as well,” Hosey stated during a press briefing.
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Hosey also noted that investigators are aware that Gray’s family had previous contact with children’s services in the area. He stated, “We are pursuing that avenue as well to see if that has any connection with today’s incident.”
Legal Proceedings and Community Response
Gray is expected to be charged with murder as an adult, according to officials. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement continues to gather information to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
In response to the incident, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp addressed the media at the scene, describing the event as a “worst nightmare” scenario. He expressed condolences and urged people to keep the affected families, educators, and students in their thoughts.
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