A teenager who opened fire at his Georgia high school, killing two students and two teachers, will change his plea to guilty later this month. Colt Gray, now 16, previously pleaded not guilty and faces 55 counts, including charges of felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault for each of the four victims.

Background of the Case

The charges stem from the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on the morning of September 4, 2024. Colt, then 14, brought a semi-automatic rifle to school, hidden in his backpack, and made several concerning comments to teachers and parents that morning, according to investigators.

School officials and resource officers went to intercept him and search his backpack, but in a mix-up, they confused him with another student named Kolton Gray. Colt prepped his weapon in a bathroom, investigators said, then hid in a hallway before opening fire into a classroom and at several people in the hallway.

Confronted by officers, Colt laid down his weapon and surrendered, authorities said. Teachers Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo were killed.

Family and Mental Health Issues

Colt’s father, Colin Gray, was convicted in March on murder and manslaughter charges and is expected to be sentenced later this month. Prosecutors argued the boy’s father had exhibited “criminal negligence” by buying his son a semi-automatic rifle as a Christmas gift and leaving the weapon unsecured – despite prior warnings that his son was a danger to others.

The trial laid out the details of Colt’s tumultuous childhood, mental health problems, and infatuation with school shooters. The family was repeatedly investigated by the Department of Family and Children Services for Colt’s misbehavior in school and lack of attendance, including missing the entirety of his 8th-grade year.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.