Crime & Safety

Accused Apalachee Gunman Pleads Not Guilty In Deadly Shooting: Reports

Colt Gray, the 14-year-old accused gunman in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School, has also waived his formal arraignment, reports say.

Colt Gray, 14, is accused of shooting and killing four people on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Winder.
Colt Gray, 14, is accused of shooting and killing four people on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Winder. (Photos provided by Barrow County Sheriff's Office)

WINDER, GA — The 14-year-old accused gunman in the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in September has pleaded not guilty days after being indicted in the fatal shooting, according to media reports.

Colt Gray is accused of shooting and killing two teachers and two students on Sept. 4 at the Barrow County high school. State authorities previously said eight students and a teacher were injured.

Gray, who was indicted Thursday on 55 counts, was charged on suspicion of felony murder and malice murder in connection with the shooting that claimed the lives of students Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

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Aside from the not-guilty plea, he has also waived a formal arraignment, both CNN and Fox 5 Atlanta reported, citing court documents.

Gray will be tried as an adult for his various charges, authorities previously said.

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If convicted, Colt Gray faces life in prison, The Washington Post reported.

Additionally, his 54-year-old father, Colin Gray, was indicted on 29 counts in connection with the deadly Apalachee shooting.

Barrow County Jail records show the elder Gray was charged on suspicion of multiple counts of murder, second-degree cruelty to children and involuntary manslaughter. He is being held without bond in the Barrow County Detention Center.

If convicted, Colin Gray faces up to 180 years in prison, the Washington Post reported.

Colin Gray was aware "of his son’s deteriorating mental state and his fascination with campus shootings," according to a past CNN report, citing witness testimony at a preliminary hearing.

In the past, news outlets reported Colin Gray was identified as the person who gave his son the assault-style rifle that was allegedly used in the tragic shooting at Apalachee.


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Testimony revealed he also bought his son "a tactical vest and ammunition" though he knew the teenager allegedly battled anger and anxiety, CNN reported.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously said the young Gray hid the rifle in his backpack and carried it onto a school bus the morning of the shooting.

According to investigator testimony, the rifle was wrapped in a poster board with the barrel poking out of the backpack, the Associated Press reported.

The GBI previously said Gray asked to go to the front office, but he instead went to the restroom and hid from teachers.

He later retrieved the rifle and started shooting, the GBI said.

Authorities testified a notebook belonging to Colt Gray contained depictions of "stick figures with wounds," CNN reported. According to the news outlet, “Shoot the teacher first” was written next to the sketches.

Authorities have not indicated a motive in the fatal shooting.

The Grays will be arraigned on Nov. 21, reports say.

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