The Georgia teen suspected of killing four people in a shooting at his high school and his father made their first court appearance Friday morning.
Cold Gray, the 14-year-old suspect, faced four murder charges for the Wednesday shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, outside Atlanta. Barrow County Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff told Gray that he could face life in prison if convicted by a jury.
According to Reuters, the judge had told Gray he could face the death penalty, however, he later corrected himself saying the teenager could not face capital punishment as he is under 18.
According to authorities, Colt is accused of using a “black semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle” to kill two 14-year-old students and two teachers. He also is accused of injuring nine other people at the school. Authorities have not yet explained the motive of the shooting or explained how the teen acquired the gun.
40 minutes later, his father Colin Gray appeared before the judge. He is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.
Colin Gray is also accused of allowing his son to carry a weapon.
“His charges are directly connected with the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, told the Associated Press.
Authorities identified the victims as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.
The AP also reported that last year Colt Gray faced scrutiny from authorities for a menacing social media post that authorities believed was a threat to carry out a school shooting. Grey denied the threats. Conflicting evidence on the post’s origin also left authorities unable to arrest anyone. Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said she reviewed last year’s report and found nothing that would have justified bringing charges at the time.
