A teenager who opened fire at Apalachee High School in Georgia, killing two students and two teachers, will change his plea to guilty later this month. The 16-year-old, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, faces 55 counts, including charges of felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault for each of the four victims.

Background of the Shooting

The shooting occurred on September 4, 2024, when the teenager brought a semi-automatic rifle to school, hidden in his backpack. He made several concerning comments to teachers and parents that morning, according to investigators. School officials and resource officers attempted to intercept him, but they confused him with another student, allowing him to prepare his weapon in a bathroom and then open fire into a classroom and at several people in the hallway.

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

Upcoming Hearing

The teenager is expected to appear in court for a change-of-plea hearing on July 24. His trial had been tentatively set for October. The charges against him stem from the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.