Since the Columbine school shooting in 1999, there have been more than 400 shootings in schools across America. One thing has recently changed about the outcomes of these terrible incidents. Parents are now facing serious consequences for the actions of their children.
Recently, there was a second case of a parent being charged with a crime after their child committed murder in their school.
A Tragedy in Georgia
Just a few weeks into the new school year, on September 4, 2024, 14-year-old Colt Gray got on the school bus with an AR-15 style rifle in his backpack. Colt Gray was a new student who enrolled at Apalachee High School, located in Winder, Georgia, on August 14, per reported by CNN.
Just a few hours later, Colt Gray used the gun to shoot his classmates and teachers.
Shortly before Colt Gray opened fire in the school, he sent a text message to his mom that read, “I’m sorry, mom.” Colt Gray’s mother called the school and asked administrators to check on her son. Reports show that the teen’s mom and grandfather then began traveling the 200 miles from their home in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Winder.
After the call, a school resource officer went to find Colt Gray, but he got mixed up with another student with a similar name. Colt Gray had already excused himself from his classroom and was hiding in the bathroom before he came out and started shooting.
Two students and two teachers were killed, and nine other individuals were injured before the school resource officer was able to confront Colt Gray and take him into custody.
Colt Gray was charged as an adult with four counts of murder. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
Shooter’s Father Also Quickly Charged with Crimes
Just days after the shooting, another arrest was made. Colt Gray’s father, Colin Gray, 54, was charged with crimes tied to his son’s actions.
Colin Gray was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, per reporting by CNN. The arrest warrant says Colin Gray caused the death of others by providing a firearm to his son while knowing he was a threat to himself and others.
It appears Colt Gray lived with his father, who is divorced from his mother. Colin Gray admitted to purchasing the gun for his son as a Christmas present. His purchase came after the Grays were contacted by authorities concerned that Colt Gray was connected to online school shooting threats. Despite being informed that his son was likely involved with the threats, Colin Gray purchased the gun for his son and failed to keep the gun secured in their house.
Not The First Case of a School Shooter’s Parents Charged with Serious Crimes
The charges against Colin Gray are not the first of its kind. Earlier this year, the first serious criminal convictions against the parents of a school shooter were made.
Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, were found guilty on four counts of manslaughter after Ethan killed four students in Michigan.
Manslaughter is different from a murder charge. In a murder charge, a person commits a premeditated or planned act that leads to the death of another person. In a manslaughter charge, a person’s action or inaction inadvertently leads to the death of another person.
In the case of Ethan Crumbley’s parents, the inaction to remove a gun from their son’s possession and take signs of problems with their son’s mental health seriously led to their convictions. On the day Ethan Crumbley killed four people at his school, his parents were called to the school by administrators concerned about the teen’s mental health. The parents did not inform the school that their son had access to a firearm and failed to remove him from school that day.
Both of Ethan Crumbley’s parents were sentenced to ten to fifteen years in prison.
Other less serious charges have been filed against parents after their children committed crimes. Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation, and 100 hours of public service, after his son killed seven people at a Fourth of July parade. Deja Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect after her six-year-old took a gun from her home to school and proceeded to shoot and injure a teacher.
The more serious criminal charges against Ethan Crumbley’s parents and Colt Gray’s father could be a sign of more families being held responsible for children who commit horrible crimes as a result of lack of parental supervision and access to guns.
If you are involved in a legal case, whether it is a criminal or civil, talk to an attorney right away. Get your questions answered. Schedule your free call with TJ Grimaldi today. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023.
Read More: Parent of Oxford School Shooter Found Guilty of Manslaughter
Take a Stand Against Gun Violence
As the Executive Director and Board Member of The Oulson Family Foundation, TJ Grimaldi is an advocate for families who have been impacted by gun violence. The Oulson Family Foundation works to get families and children the resources and support they need in the wake of tragic shootings.
If you’d like to support children impacted by gun violence, we invite you to learn more about The Oulson Family Foundation and make a donation to help provide support that goes toward medical bills, counseling, and education.
TJ Grimaldi joined McIntyre in 2011. McIntyre recruited TJ to create the divisions of personal injury and family law, as well as to expand the existing criminal defense practice at the firm. During TJ’s tenure at McIntyre, he has helped oversee and grow these practice areas. He continues to practice in these divisions while also expanding his own practice areas to include estate planning and immigration law. TJ is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
